Robert Thorogood is the creator of the hit BBC One TV series Death in Paradise. He also co-created the spin-off show, Beyond Paradise, and has written a series of Death in Paradise novels featuring DI Richard Poole. Robert’s first Marlow Murder Club novel, The Marlow Murder Club, is now a major TV series starring Samantha Bond as Judith Potts. A second series is on the way.
Robert was born in Colchester, Essex. When he was ten years old, he read his first proper novel – Agatha Christie’s Peril at End House –and he’s been in love with the genre ever since. He now lives in Marlow in Buckinghamshire with his wife, children and two whippets called Wally and Evie.
The Marlow Murder Club Mysteries (4) Murder on the Marlow Belle
Robert Thorogood
• The next instalment in the Marlow Murder Club mysteries, from the SundayTimesbestselling author.
• Now a major TV series on Drama and UKTV Play. The first series of THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB, starring Samantha Bond as Judith Potts, aired in March 2024. A THE QUEEN OF POISONS (Jan 2024)
• A SundayTimesTop Ten Hardback Fiction bestseller and a Top Twenty Paperback Fiction bestseller Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and the Reverend Richard Coles.
• All three books in the series have been Kindle and Audible top ten bestsellers multiple times
• The first book, THEMARLOWMURDERCLUB(Jan 2021), was the No.1 FictionHeatseeker of 2021 and an Indie BOTM. Book two, DEATHCOMESTOMARLOW(Jan 2023) was a Top 20 Hardback Fiction bestseller and a Bookseller Heatseeker.
• Robert Thorogood is the creator of DEATHINPARADISE , one of BBC One’s most successful series
The new cosy crime novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author. THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB is now a major TV series on Drama and UKTV Play.
Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.
Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated chap with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case, otherwise a killer will walk free …
Praise for Robert Thorogood
‘Cosy crime at its best’ Crime Monthly
'A light-hearted romp with gallons of humour, mystery and brilliant sleuthing' The Sun
‘Full of unexpected twists and turns … we will be enjoying the mysteries of Robert Thorogood for many years to come' Daily Mail
'Fiendishly clever and funny, with delightful and original characters. I loved it!' Roz Watkins
‘Thrilling and heartfelt, gripping and wonderfully humorous … an absolute joy from first page to last' Chris Whitaker
978-0-00-873278-3
7 Jan 2025
£ 20.00
The Life of Herod the Great
Zora Neale Hurston
• A GRIPPING STORY IN A LITTLE-KNOWN HISTORICAL SETTING: First Century BC Judea is a difficult world for us to imagine. Here beloved author Zora Neale Hurston breathes life into this time with vivid detail and light.
A never-before-published novel from beloved author Zora Neale Hurston, revealing the historical Herod the Great – not the demon the Bible makes him out to be but a religious and philosophical man who lived a life of adventure.
In the 1950s, after the publication of Moses, Man of the Mountain, Zora Neale Hurston penned a historical novel reconsidering the life of one of the most well-known Biblical figures, Herod the Great, reimagining him in a very different light than his villainous portrayal in the New Testament. In Hurston’s retelling, Herod is a forerunner of Christ, a religious and philosophical man who enriched Jewish culture and lived a life of adventure.
Subject
Readership
Zora Neale Hurston was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist. She finished four novels (Jonah’s Gourd Vine, 1934; Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937; Moses, Man of the Mountains, 1939; and Seraph on the Suwanee, 1948) as well as The Life of Herod the Great, which she was still writing when she died; two books of folklore (Mules and Men, 1935, and Every Tongue Got to Confess, 2001); a work of anthropological research, (Tell My Horse, 1938); an autobiography (Dust Tracks on a Road, 1942); an international bestselling nonfiction work (Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” 2018); and over fifty short stories, essays, and plays. She attended Howard University, Barnard College, and Columbia University and was a graduate of Barnard College in 1928. She was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, and grew up in Eatonville, Florida.
From the peaks of triumph to the depths of human misery, the historical Herod 'seemed to have been singled out by some deity and especially endowed to attract the zigzag lightning of fate,' Hurston writes. An intimate of both Marc Antony and Julius Caesar, the Judean king lived in a time of war and imperial expansion that was rife with political assassinations and bribery, as the old world gave way to the new.
Setting him within this vivid, colorful world little known to modern readers, Hurston’s unfinished manuscript brings this complex, compelling, and misunderstood leader fully into focus. Scholar and literary critic Deborah Plant contributes 'Commentary: A Story Finally Told' as an end note underscoring Hurston’s point about how reimagining figures from the past can address the troubles we experience today.
'Zora Neale was a knockout in her life' MAYA ANGELOU
'A rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive' ZADIE SMITH
Praise for Zora Neale Hurston:
'Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of the very greatest American novels of the 20th century. It is so lyrical it should be sentimental; it is so passionate it should be overwrought, but it is instead a rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive. There is no novel I love more' ZADIE SMITH
'To the last page that fills the soul with tears, Hurston's novel delivers. To me, it is also a welcome reminder that books are democratic, subversive and life-changing' THE TIMES
'This novel is a packet of surprises as we have no idea what's going to happen next. Many romantic novels basically have the same plot, but this novel is something no one would have ever imagined' GUARDIAN
'There is no book more important to me than this one. It speaks to me as no novel, past or present, has ever done' ALICE WALKER
'Zora Neale Hurston was a knockout in her life, a wonderful writer and a fabulous person. Devilishly funny and academically solid: delicious mixture' MAYA ANGELOU
978-0-00-865698-0
384pp
30 Jan 2025
£ 16.99
Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
Readership
Amy Jordan lives by the sea with her husband and young children in Cork, Ireland. A former tutor at Munster Technological University, she worked in the Irish civil service for a number of years before pursuing her passion for writing crime fiction. Amy is a fan of thrillers and crime novels, and her love of suspense and plot twists flows into her writing.
The Dark Hours
Amy Jordan
• Fiendishly well-plotted and genuinely creepy – an updated twist on the serial killer thriller set in Cork
• Amy Jordan is a fresh new voice in crime writing
• A brilliant, visceral debut for fans of CJ Tudor, Catherine Ryan Howard and Jane Casey.
• Central character Julia Harte is a refreshing, older female protagonist.
A gripping police thriller from a fresh new voice in Irish crime fiction
‘Dark, gripping and atmospheric, I was hooked by the first page… you won't be able to put The Dark Hours down.’ Sam Blake
‘I loved the fact that the protagonist was an older woman… A strikingly original lead character, vivid characterisation and tight plotting… a very enjoyable read’ Liz Nugent
1994: When Gardaí Julia Harte and Adrian Clancy are called out to a sleepy housing estate in Cork to investigate a noise complaint, they are entirely unprepared for what they find. What happens next will haunt Julia for the rest of her days, leaving her plagued with nightmares and terrified of the dark. There is a serial killer at work in Cork, one as clever as he is deadly. Julia may not be a detective yet, but after the harrowing events of that night, she is determined to be the one to catch him…
2024: Julia Harte has chosen just the right place to disappear. Now a retired detective with an illustrious career behind her, she has moved to a tiny cottage in a remote part of Ireland where she hopes to find peace. But then she receives a phone call from her old Superintendent – two women have been murdered, their bodies marked and staged, just like in ’94.
It’s happening again. Only this time, the stakes are even higher. Julia must return to Cork to face down a vicious killer and the memories that haunt her still. Yet Julia is no longer a naïve junior officer but a seasoned, tough professional who proves more than a match for any murderer…
978-0-00-865673-7 30 Jan 2025 336pp £ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership General
KATY BRENT is a freelance journalist and has been in the industry for over fifteen years. She started work in women’s magazines back in 2005. In 2006, Katy won a PTA award for New Journalist of the Year. More recently she has focused on television journalism. Writing a book has always been her dream and lockdown finally gave the time she kept using as an excuse for not doing it.
Kitty Collins (2)
I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin
Katy Brent
• Serial-killing heroine Kitty Collins returns in this standalone sequel to Katy’s debut which sees her going on an international killing spree in the South of France.
Your favourite anti-heroine, Kitty Collins, is back! Expect more wit, sass, and, of course, murder…
My name is Kitty Collins and I’m a serial killer.
I don’t want to kill. It’s just so hard to resist. Some men really, really deserve it.
Men like Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny online. He’s making it very hard for me to control my murderous urges.
Meanwhile I’m in the South of France to watch my mother marry a man I’ve never met. I should be drinking cocktails and focusing on my tan, not plotting a murder.
But a woman’s work is never done. Surely one more teensy little kill wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Fans of How to Kill Your Family and Bad Sisters will love this deliciously dark, hilariously twisted new novel from the author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It and The Murder After the Night Before
Readers are obsessed with Kitty Collins:
'Darkly witty'Red
' MadeinChelsea if it got seriously dark'Heat
‘I literally couldn’t put this book down, I was just so engrossed in Kitty and what the heck she was going to do next!!’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐
‘This book has got to be my favourite so far this year.’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐
‘There are just so many good things I could say about this book. I absolutely tore (pun intended) through this read. Everyone needs to go read it.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘Being a man I really shouldn't like this book. Well I didn't like it. I loved it! Oh I just couldn't stop reading this.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘ HowtoKillMen was an absolute treat to read, sending out American Psycho and Promising Young Women vibes.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘AMAZING!!! Where has Kitty been all my life?’ NetGalley reviewer
‘This is one of the most clever books I have read in quite a while.’ NetGalley reviewer
‘A well-rounded cast of characters, quick pace, and thrilling twists make this one of my favourites of the year!’ NetGalley reviewer
978-0-00-864585-4
22 May 2025
The Chemist
A.A. Dhand
• The launch of a gritty and exciting new thriller series, featuring your new favourite antihero, Idris Kalia. From the award-winning scriptwriter and author of the DI Harry Virdee novels.
• Featuring a high-stakes world of drugs, power, kingpins, and revenge, set in Yorkshire. The Chemist is Breaking Bad meets Top Boy meets The Wire in book form, and for readers who enjoy adrenaline-fuelled thrillers with gritty cityscape settings.
• Authentic storytelling: A. A. Dhand was a community pharmacist for decades. 384pp
£ 16.99
Subject
A. A. Dhand is the author of five previous novels, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger Award. His DI Harry Virdee novels are currently being adapted for TV by the BBC. He was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired all his novels.
As a pharmacist, A. A. Dhand was surrounded by drugs, dealers, and incredible stories of maverick drug-deals, which on one hand blew his mind in their ingenuity, and on the other sickened him with how easily they preyed on the most vulnerable. His experiences inspired the writing of The Chemist.
Don’t miss this incredible adrenaline-filled thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat in 2025!
‘An author to keep an eye on … Dhand is a fearless writer’ Sunday Times
*
He knows everything about you. Including how to save you. And how to kill you.
Local pharmacist and pillar of the community, Idris Khan, spends his days doling out methadone to the hundreds of addicts in his care. They trust Idris with their secrets, and so he knows more than his mild manner suggests. So when his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca, doesn't turn up for her daily methadone dose, Idris is worried. Worried enough to go looking for her in the most deprived area of Leeds, alone.
He finds Rebecca, and the mess he stumbles on places Idris in the middle of a turf war between the two most powerful drug cartels in Yorkshire. Now, he must use every bit of intelligence and cunning he has to keep those he loves safe.
Because a war is on the way. And when Idris goes after his enemies, they won't see him coming.
*
Praise for A. A. Dhand:
‘Outstanding – relentless, multi-layered suspense and real human drama’ Lee Child
‘Timely, and a compulsive page-turner’ Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond
‘This man knows how to keep me up into the early hours. Relentlessly thrilling!’ Vaseem Khan, author of Midnight at Malabar House
‘Deserves attention for its sheer inventiveness and unbridled energy’ The Times
Praise for A. A. Dhand:
For more information about A. A. Dhand and his books, follow him on X @aadhand, and on Instagram @aadhand.
'A fireball of an opening chapter and it just gets better and better. A A Dhand is a gifted writer, and you should run, RUN, to buy The Blood Divide.' Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen
'Dhand is a fearless writer' Sunday Times
'Another thrilling page-turner from A. A. Dhand … This might be his best yet' Alex Caan, author of Cut to The Bone
978-0-00-859013-0
336pp
2 Jan 2025
Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
Readership
Faith Martin has been writing for thirty years, under different pen names, and has published over fifty novels. She began writing romantic thrillers as Maxine Barry, but quickly turned to crime! As Joyce Cato she wrote classic-style whodunits, since she’s always admired the golden-age crime novelists. But it was when she created her fictional DI Hillary Greene, and began writing under the name of Faith Martin, that she finally became more widely known. Having penned the Ryder & Loveday series set back in the 1960s in the City of Oxford, Faith Martin has now turned to the golden age itself, with a brand new series set in the Cotswolds of the 1920s. Having lived in Oxfordshire all her life, both the city and the countryside/wildlife often feature in her novels. The fauna of a farming landscape has always played a big part in her life – and often sneak its way onto the pages of her books.
The Val & Arbie Mysteries (2)
The Last Word Is Death
Faith Martin
• From the multi-million-copy bestselling author of the Hillary Greene and Ryder & Loveday series.
• A gripping new cosy crime series set in the Cotswolds of the 1920s, featuring gentleman ghost-hunter Arbie and vicar’s daughter Val.
• Combining fiendishly intricate murders, gentle humour and a cosy, uplifting setting, this series is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett, Robert Thorogood and Agatha Christie.
The second book in the Val and Arbie mysteries and the follow up to Murder by Candlelight. Can be read as a standalone.
Praise for Murder by Candlelight: 'Brilliant characters that leap off the page.' THE SUN
Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift arrives at Dashwood House, a glamorously modern hotel in the up-and-coming resort of Galton-next-the-Sea, but all plans for a relaxing stay are scuppered when one of the guests is found dead.
The body is found in the writing room, the victim part of a set visiting the seaside town for an engagement party, which happens to include Arbie’s old friend, Val.
Familiar with Val and Arbie’s previous experience in solving puzzling crimes, the bride asks the pair to investigate. They quickly discover that the victim had no shortage of enemies, and many of the guests are up to no good. But who is simply hiding a secret, and who is hiding murder?
Praise for Murder by Candlelight:
'We devoured this whoddunit in one sitting!' bella
'With murder, intrigue, and ghostly happenings, this will satisfy cosy crime fans.' Heat
'Her knowledge of the genre and easy writing style makes this an effortless and fun read.' MyWeekly
'A clever mystery.' Woman'sOwn
'This engaging and energetic mystery hosts an abundance of engaging characters and is great fun.' Platinum
‘The perfect village mystery. A golden-age world with an energy that is totally contemporary.’ J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder
‘A charming and clever take on a locked room murder.’ Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of TheDoctor NellWardMysteries
‘A wonderful Wodehousian world of intrigue and suspicion and a tricky puzzle to solve.’ Helena Dixon, author of the MissUnderhayMysteries
‘All the ingredients of a classic mystery – engaging characters and an impossible crime. The story races along like a runaway locomotive… enormous fun.’ Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners
978-0-00-862103-2
16 Jan 2025
Subject
Readership
Erin Connor has been telling herself stories for as long as she can remember, and once she realized she could write them down and share them with others, there was no going back. She loves writing about messy women, platonic and romantic love, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the PNW with her spouse, two large dogs, two lazy cats, and more houseplants than she can count. When not exploring fictional worlds, she enjoys hiking, cooking, emo nostalgia, and slowly but surely actualizing her lifelong goal of becoming a forest witch.
Unromance
Erin Connor
• The romance lover’s romance novel: a jaded romance novelist and heartbroken TV heartthrob team up to ruin romance, one trope at a time
• Spicy romcom for lovers of Ali Hazelwood or Christina Lauren
UNROMANCE: A story in which two characters absolutely, categorically do not fall in love … right?
'A love letter to romance and its readers' – Anita Kelly
'Sparkles with classic Hollywood rom-com magic' – Andi Burke
Sawyer Greene is done with romance.
Once a bestselling author of the genre, she’s been left with nothing but heartbreak and bitterness.
Mason West is a hopeless romantic.
He has a habit of falling in love with all the wrong people. So when the two find themselves stuck in a lift together, Sawyer is determined this will not be their meet cute.
But the universe has other plans.
Sawyer and Mason make a plan to cure him of his hopeless romanticism, her of her writer’s block. It’s simple. Sawyer will become the romcom love interest of Mason’s dreams and ruin romance for him one trope at a time…
There’s just one rule: do not fall in love. What could go wrong?
Perfect for fans of:
❤ Cassic rom-com tropes
❤ Grumpy X Sunshine
❤ Meet-cutes
❤ Fake dating
❤ Spicy romances
❤ Happily Ever After
'A love letter to romance and its readers, Unromance is an impossibly charming love story that follows through on the promise of its premise. Sawyer and Mason's flaws and vulnerabilities balance each other perfectly, and I rooted for them harder and harder through every single trope. A sexy, delightful read!' Anita Kelly, Love & Other Disasters
'Unromance is a funny, spicy, wintery dream of a romance book that will have you rooting for the couple from chapter one. The perfect read for rom-com connoisseurs everywhere.' Gabriella Gamez, The Next Best Fling
'From meet-cute to HEA, Erin Connor’s debut Unromance sparkles with classic Hollywood rom-com magic—combining wickedly funny banter with chemistry that practically sizzles off the page. This one’s an instant favorite.' Andi Burke, Fly With Me
978-0-00-860759-3
16 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership General
The Mother’s Secret
Karen Clarke
Don't miss the next thrilling read from Karen Clarke, author ofMyBestFriend's Secret!
Fans of Claire Amarti and Nicole Trope will love Karen Clarke!
Kate and her husband are expecting their first child. Even though it was a surprise, Kate is thrilled and so is her mother, Helen. Kate just needs Helen’s anxieties to ease and for Dan to be on board.
Dan is struggling – he loves Kate, but he is not ready to be a father. With relations between them feeling hostile, the attractive lead singer in Dan’s band offers him a tantalizing escape.
‘So gripping, a must read.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 384pp B 198x129, Paperback
KAREN CLARKE writes her novels in Buckinghamshire, where she lives with her husband and three grown-up children. Having previously published twelve romantic comedies, Karen switched to the dark side, co-writing psychological thriller The Secret Sister with fellow author Amanda Brittany. Your Life For Mine is Karen’s first solo psychological suspense novel and she’s currently working on her second.When she’s not writing, Karen reads a lot, loves walking, photography, going to the cinema, baking and eating cake (not all at the same time).
Two weeks before the due date, Kate heads off for an overnight stay at a guesthouse she is designing. When suddenly neither Helen nor Dan can reach her, Helen discloses a dark secret from their past. One that leaves them wondering, has something terrible happened to Kate and the baby?
Praise for Karen Clarke:
‘I couldn’t put this book down… I never knew what to expect when I turned the page.’ NetGalley reviewer⭐
‘A suspenseful drama that I couldn't put down. It had me hooked with its many twists and turns.’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Kept me reading long after I should have turned out the light.’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-853044-0
16 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Michael J. Hollows was born in London in 1986, and moved to Liverpool in 2010 to lecture in Audio Engineering. With a keen interest in history, music, and science, he has told stories since he was little. Goodbye for Now, published in Oct 2018, is his first novel, which he started as part of his MA in Writing from Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 2015. The German Nurse, his second historical novel, was a top ten Globe & Mail bestseller. Michael also writes for Black Library and his first short story Ashes of Grimnir is available now. He is currently researching towards a PhD in Creative Writing, working on his next novel.
The Violinist’s Secret
M.J.
Hollows
• Compelling and spellbinding historical fiction, perfect for anyone interested in theuntold stories of World War II, and fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale andMarcus Gabriel’s The German Daughter
• At a time when not only books were being censored, but much music was bannedas being ‘un-German’, Charlotte meets a friend to play forbidden music. When herfriend is murdered, she joins a Nazi spy organisation to find out the truth of whathappened to her, and then work against the Nazis from within.
The brand-new World War 2 historical novel from the bestselling author of TheGerman Messenger
Charlotte Weber is against the Nazi regime and what it stands for, but as she attends Hamburg University, she struggles to make sense of the war she finds herself a part of. Practising her violin for the university orchestra with her friend, Greta, gets her through the days, until Greta fails to meet her one day, and Charlotte goes to her friend’s apartment to find her body inside. The police declare it a suicide, but Charlotte knows it is murder.
Desperate to discover who killed her friend, but not knowing where to turn, Charlotte is approached by Nazi spies, who recruit her, believing she is Greta. Caught right in the middle of the regime’s web, Charlotte determines to use her position to subvert the regime from the inside, and find out the truth about Greta once and for all. As the war atrocities heighten, and she witnesses the brutality of the Gestapo, Charlotte begins to discover hidden truths of her closest circle of friends, all of whom have something to hide that would make them targets for the Nazis…
Readers are LOVING M.J. Hollows
'I loved this book' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Would recommend it’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I finished it in one sitting’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-866684-2
336pp
30 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Fiction
Readership General
Theresa Howes lives in London, and has a background as an actor. Her work has been long-listed for the Mslexia Novel Award, the Bath Novel Award, The Caledonia Novel Award, The Lucy Cavendish College Prize, and the BBC National Short Story Award.
A Matter of Persuasion
Theresa Howes
• A retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, set in the Gilded Age.
A second chance romance set in a world where women are still not able to speak their true feelings.
Lose yourself in this retelling of Persuasion,
the ultimate tale of love, loss and sacrifice, re-imagined in the opulent but guarded Gilded Age society.
New York, 1882. Amy Eaton is a bestselling authoress and celebrity figure, much to the embarrassment of her aristocratic family, who deem her professionalism as a lowering in their social standing. Despite her family’s undisguised disdain of her, Amy is bound by a promise she made to her dying mother: to look after her two sisters and father in her mother’s absence.
Eight years have passed since Amy gave up the love of her life, after being persuaded not to marry him by her mother’s best friend. But now Wareham is back, a rich, self-made man in search of a wife.
Doing her best to forget the past and the life she may have had with Wareham, Amy must learn how to navigate her small social circle without letting her true feelings show.
Praise for Theresa Howes:
‘I absolutely loved this Vivid and heartbreaking.’ Lana Kortchik, USATodaybestselling author of SistersofWar
‘War, passion and tragedy unite in this atmospheric and moving tale.’ S D Sykes, author of the Oswald deLacyMedievalMurdersseries
‘A wonderfully immersive, emotional read.’ Annabelle Thorpe, author of TheEnemyofLove
‘I stayed up late into the night to finish… A thrilling, exciting story You might want to have some tissues handy.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book will stay with me for a long time. A credit to Theresa Howes for exquisite writing and an evocative storyline.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It was absolutely compulsive – my heart was in my throat for the brilliant heroine all the way through.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-871966-1
13 Feb 2025
£ 9.99
Paperback
Subject
Readership General
Laura Pavlov is the USA Today bestselling author of sweet and sexy contemporary romances that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost grown kids, and dog-whisperer to one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.
Hayes
Laura Pavlov
• The MAGNOLIA FALLS series are sweet, sexy, small-town romances which are the perfectnext reads for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and Devney Perry.
The marriage was fake, but my feelings were real …
Welcome to Magnolia Falls … perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Lucy Score and B.K. Borison!
Savannah Abbott was my best friend growing up, and the reason I could be the best version of myself.
But then, without warning, she was gone. And my life began unravelling the day she left. My guard went up, and my ability to trust people disappeared.
But now, Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls, and she’s acting like I’m the enemy.
That is, until she needs a favour. A temporary husband …
I may fight flames for a living, but my new wife is the fire that’s been missing all along. None of this is real, we remind ourselves while we’re playing house.
But maybe, for her, I’m willing to bend the rules …
Readers can't get enough of MAGNOLIA FALLS!
'I laughed, I cried, I blushed and kicked my feet like crazy, this book was EVERYTHING!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
'The spice in this book was top tier' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Falling in love with the ride or die gang has been a highlight of 2024' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I highly recommend reading this small town romance, Laura is the queen of them' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Moving, epically sweet and searingly romantic … this is your next favourite read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
Marriage of convenience
Gumpy x sunshine
Firefighter romance
Small town
Found family
978-0-00-871941-8
13 Feb 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Science fiction and fantasy General
Melissa K. Roehrich is a dark fantasy romance author that loves coffee, dragons, and constantly rearranging her bookshelves. She spends her time writing, reading, and homeschooling her three boys in the Middleof-Nowhere, North Dakota, where she lives with her boys, husband, three dogs, multiple barn cats, and chickens on a small farmstead. She is constantly trying to convince her husband they need to add goats and ducks to the mix, and one day, she'll succeed.
Lady of Darkness (3) Lady of Ashes
Melissa K. Roehrich
She will not be the same as when she left
Fire and Shadows
Scarlett Semiria knew the cost of her actions the day she sacrificed everything to keep her family, her Courts, and her twin flame safe. At least she thought she did. When she discovers the cost was more than she could have ever anticipated, she finds herself once again forced to choose between saving innocents or saving the ones she loves. But this choice might just leave her so broken, even the stars won’t be able to bring her back.
Light and Dark
Crown Prince Callan is more than happy to leave the Fire Court behind, along with the woman who chose someone else. But when he arrives home, he finds there is no escaping the world of darkness he has been dragged into. To protect his people and his kingdom, he is forced to enter into a dangerous deception that quickly turns into a game of cleverness and strategy, and he finds that he has allies in the most unexpected places.
Beginnings and Endings
Fae Queen Talwyn Semiria has been waiting for decades for her cousin to return home. She had expected to find a kindred spirit. What she got was a brash assassin who does things her own way and flouts all traditional decorum. But she refuses to let Scarlett stand between her and what is best for her Courts. She will play nice for now, but when it comes down to going after the true evil that resides across the sea and threatens their lands, she’ll take it all and sacrifice everything.
Everything hangs in the balance
One wrong move, and the scales will tip
Only ashes will remain
978-0-00-860322-9
13 Feb 2025
£ 9.99
The Bookshop of Secrets
Kerry Barrett
• Kerry is the Kindle top-100 bestselling author of TheGirlinthePicture, TheBookof LastLettersand TheSmuggler’sDaughter
‘What a page turner!' Daisy Wood, author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris
'A delicious Art Deco novel with a delightfully acerbic heroine.' Marius Gabriel, author of The German Daughter'
Original and immersive.' Eva Glyn, author of An Island of Secrets
In a bookshop nestled in the sprawling streets of Lisbon, a shopkeeper leads a double life…
Looking for a new start after her father’s death, Lara Hope arrives in Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met.
As war storms across Europe, Lara finds solace and belonging in her landlady’s tranquil bookshop in one of the most beautiful corners of the city.
Subject
Readership
Kerry Barrett was a bookworm from a very early age and did a degree in English Literature, then trained as a journalist, writing about everything from pub grub to EastEnders. Her first novel, Like A Charm, took six years to finish and was mostly written in longhand on her commute to work, giving her a very good reason to buy beautiful notebooks. Kerry lives in London with her husband and two sons, and Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes is still her favourite novel.
But when she witnesses a customer secretly swapping a book, she realises the bookshop is not all it seems. Lara is plunged into a labyrinthine world of mystery and facades, encountering new friends, an unexpected romance, and even royalty… Is she prepared to risk it all for this new life?
Readers love Kerry Barrett:
'Every now and then you stumble across a book that's so great you can't wait for your next chance to be alone with it: this is one of those books'. Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book was an absolute joy. I didn’t want to finish it. I look forward to reading more books by this author.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book has heartache and joy and it was an absolute pleasure to read.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
'The characters are beautifully written and the author effortlessly sucks you in to their worlds.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A delicious Art Deco novel with a delightfully acerbic heroine and a cast of fabulously diverse characters having perilous adventures in exotic locations – what more could you want? Lovely fireside reading!' Marius Gabriel
‘What a page turner! A bookshop in wartime Lisbon is the gateway to a thrilling world of mystery, espionage, adventure and romance for brilliant and beautiful Lara.' Daisy Wood
'Original and immersive. If you read one Second World War novel in 2025 – make it this one.' Eva Glyn
'I was completely swept away by the story of smart, savvy heroine, Lara and the wonderfully, eclectic cast of supporting characters. A must-read for historical fiction fans and for me, Kerry Barrett’s best book yet.' Annie Lyons
978-0-00-873714-6
13 Feb 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership General
HELEN PHIFER lives in a small town called Barrow-in-Furness with her husband and five children. She has lived in the same town since she was born. It gets some bad press but really is a lovely place to live, surrounded by coastline and not far from the Lake District, where she likes to spend at least one of her days off from work. She has always loved writing and reading and loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Unable to find enough scary stories to read, she decided to write her own.
You can contact or follow Helen on her blog at helenphiferblog. wordpress.com, her website at www. helenphifer.com and on Twitter, @helenphifer1.
The Annie Graham crime series (3) The Forgotten Cottage
Helen Phifer
The chilling third book in the AnnieGrahamcrime thriller series
Things finally seem to be looking up for police officer Annie Graham. After a tumultuous couple of years, she is settling into a normal, happy life. Her wedding is fast approaching, and her fiancé Will has found a forgotten but beautiful little cottage for them to make their own.
But as Annie begins to have increasingly vivid nightmares, she realises their new home may not be as unoccupied as it first seemed. Her arrival has stirred up the ghosts of a tragic past, and she needs to put them to rest once and for all.
But while Annie’s distracted, another threat is emerging from the shadows. And if she doesn’t act fast, her days may be numbered…
Look out for more from the series:
• The Ghost House
• Secrets of the Shadows
• The Forgotten Cottage
• The Lake House
• The Girls in the Woods
• The Face Behind the Mask
Readers love the AnnieGrahamseries!
'This is a fantastic story… An excellent combo of "who-dunnit", tragic timelines and haunted houses' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book had me reading into the early hours of the morning, I just loved it… I was there with Annie and felt the hairs stand up on a few occasions. Great start to a new series' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
'This book is raved about by all who read it and rightly so… It is a startling good read which grips you from the first few pages… I COULD NOT put this book down!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'There were times I totally lost myself in the plot… I even found myself sat up at 4am racing through the last couple of chapters as I wanted to know what happened. I loved it' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
978-0-00-867331-4
416pp
13 Mar 2025
Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
Readership General
Elissa Soave won the inaugural Primadonna Prize in 2019. She was also a Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect finalist 2019 and has had work published in various journals and anthologies, including New Writing Scotland, Gutter, and the Glasgow Review of Books Her first novel, Ginger and Me, was published by HQ, HarperCollins in July 2022, and was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Scottish First Book Award 2023. Her second novel, Graffiti Girls, will be published by HQ in November 2024. Elissa was a judge on the Primadonna Prize 2022 and the Curae Prize 2023. She currently lives in South Lanarkshire.
Graffiti Girls
Elissa Soave
A sharp, empowering novel about a group of women who refuse to go quietly when society tells them they’re no longer valuable beyond the age of 40, from the author of Ginger and Me.
Amy, Carole, Lenore and Susan have been best friends since school. Back then they couldn’t wait for the future, for the amazing lives they’d have.
But things haven’t worked out how they expected. Now in their forties, they’re fed up with being taken for granted by their families, being passed over for promotions at work and being told that they’re past their best. And they’re not going to go quietly anymore.
Fuelled by female rage and their charismatic leader Amy, the four embark on a campaign of graffiti in their hometown of Hamilton, scrawling feminist slogans on the walls of local buildings.
But is Hamilton ready for the feminist revolution the Graffiti Girls have in store?
Praise for Graffiti Girls:
'A rebellious and uplifting tale of punkish, middle-aged, feminist defiance, told with wit, warmth and energy. I was rooting for Soave’s tenderly drawn characters on every page.' Lucy Ribchester, author of Murder Ballad
'A delicious tale of female rebellion and a glorious tribute to female friendship. Warm, funny, and uplifting with genuine insight into women's lives. I adored every page.' Caron McKinlay, author of The Storytellers
'A delicious tale of female rebellion and a glorious tribute to female friendship. Warm, funny, and uplifting with genuine insight into women's lives. I adored every page.' Caron McKinlay, author of The Storytellers
'A rebellious and uplifting tale of punkish, middle-aged, feminist defiance, told with wit, warmth and energy. I was rooting for Soave’s tenderly drawn characters on every page.' Lucy Ribchester, author of Murder Ballad
'Graffiti Girls is a sharply observed and thought-provoking cri de coeur about everyday sexism. It is the uplifting story of a group of women re-setting their lives and re-discovering their purpose during mid-life crises extraordinaire – a tale told with passion and verve.' Catherine Simpson, author of One Body
Praise for Ginger and Me:
‘Vivid, funny, sad, thought-provoking, acutely observed and full of compassion’ Helen Sedgwick
‘A debut novel to treasure, by turns funny, dark and heartbreaking and I didn’t want it to end!’ Louise Mumford
‘A fascinating and poignant take on friendship and obsession’ Caron McKinlay
‘Startling, sly and full of suspense. Not your ordinary coming of age novel’ Catherine Mayer
‘Full of charm, insight and wit – with the power to break your heart’ C. E. Riley
978-0-00-871633-2
11 Mar 2025
The Earl Meets His Match
TJ Alexander
• THEEARLMEETSHISMATCH is the perfect next read for fans of Casey McQuiston, AlexisHall and Julia Quinn
• TJ Alexander is the author of four contemporary romances, includingChef’sKiss , named one of the best 100 books of 2022 byTime , andSecondChancesinNewPortStephen , the Afterlight pick for November 2023.
It's the perfect season for coming out …
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
But Lord Christopher Eden is no ordinary man …
Subject
Readership
TJ Alexander is a critically acclaimed author who writes about queer love. Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants.
Lord Eden has always preferred the comfortable company of his staff to the prying eyes of the debutantes at the ton’s latest soirée. So, when he receives word that he must find a wife by the end of the Season, or lose his fortune, Christopher knows that he can’t do it alone.
Enter the distractingly dashing – if rather stoic – James Harding. As Lord Eden’s mysterious new valet, James must ensure Christopher’s reputation appears as faultless as his cravat. But as sparks fly, and Christopher’s deadline to find love looms, will James find himself vying for the position instead?
Don't miss the brand-new trans regency romance from the beloved author of Chef's Kiss!
Tropes:
Trans romance
Enemies-to-lovers
Forbidden romance
Forced proximity
*Published in the USA as A Gentleman's Gentleman*
Praise for TJ Alexander:
'An utter delight … the ultimate feel-good read' Jesse Sutanto
'One of the most intricate and satisfying queer romances in years' Publishers Weekly
'A sweet treat of a romantic comedy' Alison Cochrun
'Uniquely charming' Timothy Janovsky
'Joyfully queer, laugh-out-loud funny' Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
978-0-00-860331-1
13 Mar 2025
The Highland Girls Report for Duty
Helen Yendall
• WW2 saga for fans of Rosie James and Diney Costeloe, from the Kindle top 100 bestseller of The Highland Girls at War
• Based on the true history of the Women’s Timber Corps, where women took on the backbreaking work of managing forests during WW2
Don’t miss this poignant and heartwarming WW2 novel for fans of Rosie Clarke, Dilly Court and Rosie Archer.
Scotland, 1944
Fearless Seffy was hoping for a transfer to England to be near Callum, the Canadian soldier she has given her heart to. Instead she is instructed to train a new group of lumberjills. Will their unhelpful attitude finally be a match for Seffy’s determination and cheerfulness?
Subject
Readership
Helen Yendall has had dozens of short stories published in women’s magazines over the past twenty years and now writes femalefocused WW2 novels.
Although a proud Brummie by birth, Helen now lives in the North Cotswolds with her husband and cocker spaniel, Bonnie. When she’s not teaching or writing, she likes reading, swimming, tennis and walking in the beautiful countryside where she lives.
Sensible Jean is a true believer in the wartime effort. When she meets a conscientious objector can she accept that following the rules might not always define a person?
And young Missy has come all the way over from Canada to surprise her first love, Callum who is stationed as a soldier in England. But despite this grand act of love, his heart may no longer belong to her…
The Women’s Timber Corps are about to have a tumultuous year…
Praise for The Highland Girls series:
'A true saga with friendship, heartbreak and joy. More please!’ Elaine Everest
'Five stars and highly recommended' Jean Fullerton
'Helen Yendall is a rising star in wartime sagas' Betty Walker
'A wartime saga full of feisty, relatable characters who you take into your heart' Michelle Rawlins
Readers LOVE The Highland Girls on Guard!
‘Greatly written… Read it far too quickly!!’ - NetGalley reviewer
‘It was a joy to read…The icing on the cake was the discovery that there's to be a third book’NetGalley reviewer
'This is the first time that I read a novel by Helen Yendall! I could not put it down' - NetGalley reviewer
'The plotting was fast-paced and intriguing, combining elements of romance, friendship, subterfuge, and a satisfying, cheer-out-loud ending. A thoroughly enjoyable read' - NetGalley reviewer
'Beautifully written and a real page turner' - NetGalley reviewer
978-0-00-873557-9
13 Mar 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Diane Jeffrey grew up in North Devon, in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Lyon, France with her husband and their three children, Labrador, cat and kitten.
Diane is an English teacher. When she's not working or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Readers can follow Diane on Twitter @dianefjeffrey or on Facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor
The Crime Writer
Diane Jeffrey
This gripping new thriller will have you racing to the finish!
‘Engrossing, enthralling, intriguing… clever structure, and brilliant plotting’ Liz Nugent
'The Crime Writer is an addictive thriller that hooks you from the first page and reveals its secrets with pitch-perfect timing' Sarah Clarke
‘Kept me reading into the early hours – totally captivating’ Orlando Murrin
2019. Leona Walsh, a 34-year-old wife and mother vanishes on a bitterly cold afternoon while out jogging on the edge of Exmoor. It’s a mystery which captures public interest and ignites wild speculation. The police have a prime suspect: Leona’s husband, Matthew, a renowned crime writer. He can plot the perfect crime. But is he capable of committing the perfect murder?
Despite extensive searches, the police find no trace of Leona and her disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. As public interest dwindles, Matthew returns to raising their two daughters, aware the cloud of suspicion is never far away.
2024. Some human bones are discovered in a garden. Could they be Leona’s remains? And if so, is there enough evidence to find out what really happened five years ago?
Journalist Gabriela Conti covered the news story back in 2019. The police may have stopped watching Matthew, but Gabriella hasn’t forgotten him. And she is determined this case will define her career… even if that means getting close to a murderer.
Award-winning author Diane Jeffrey returns with this blistering, dark thriller.
Readers love Diane Jeffrey!
'A tense captivating read!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The suspense and tension carries right the way through this book… Chilling, unpredictable and totally gripping. Diane's writing will keep your eyes glued to the page' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Brilliant story, believable characters brought to life by this very talented writer. You will be second guessing throughout and will change your mind after every chapter. I read this book in one sitting, it was impossible to put it down' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A gripping storyline, well-written with believable characters. At times moving and thought-provoking, it deals with a range of issues such as loss, abuse and justice. An excellent read' Reader review ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Diane Jeffrey
‘Deliciously dark and suspenseful… A tour-de-force’ Alex Michaelides
‘Gripping, thought-provoking and scarily believable … just when you think you know where the story is going, another twist comes round the corner’ T.M. Logan
‘Stayed up late finishing this, just had to know what happened, brilliant final twist! Gripping page-turner with great characters’ B A Paris
‘Had me on the edge of my seat’ Lisa Hall
‘A compelling, addictive thriller’ Samantha Downing
‘Dark, gripping and suspenseful’ Lesley Kara
‘[A] powerhouse of a thriller’ Louise Mumford
978-0-00-873731-3 18 Mar 2025 352pp £ 16.99 Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
Jill Santopolo is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Light We Lost, which was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. Her work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages and has appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Apple, Amazon, and Indiebound bestseller lists. She received a BA from Columbia University and an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is also the author of three successful children's and young-adult series and works as the publisher of Philomel Books. Santopolo travels the world to speak about writing and storytelling. A New Yorker at heart, Santopolo is currently living in Washington, D.C. with her family.
The Love We Found
Jill Santopolo
• A long awaited sequel– Fans are dying to find out what happened after the cliffhanger ending!
• Perfect book-club read– THELIGHTWELOSTwas a Reese’s Book Club pick, and thissequel is an equally gripping love story posing serious questions about love, loss and family.
• Film News – THELIGHTWELOSTis in development for a film with Apple
TEN YEARS. TWO LOVES. ONE LAST CHANCE.
'Santopolo is a true master of matters of the heart’ Taylor Jenkins Reid
'No one writes about love, in all its beautiful mess, the way Santopolo does' Carley Fortune
FATE BROKE HER HEART …
It’s been ten years since Lucy Carter Maxwell lost her soulmate. Having hidden from love ever since, she’s stunned to find it pulling at her when she discovers an old, forgotten box of Gabe’s photographs.
Desperate to find the hope she has been searching for, Lucy begins to unravel the secrets that Gabe left behind.
…
CAN NEW LOVE SET HER FREE?
The journey leads Lucy to Italy and into the path of Dr. Dax Armstrong. The pain in his sad, intense eyes, matches Lucy’s own – his touch reignites her in a way that no one has since Gabe.
Afraid of these newly awakened parts of herself, Lucy can feel the comfort of her old life tugging at her. But with an earth-shattering secret waiting in the shadows, can Lucy ever embrace love, if she doesn’t embrace the truth?
A devastating love story about fate, and the enduring power of love. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Paige Toon and Claire Daverley.
Praise for THELOVEWEFOUND:
'THE LOVE WE FOUND is a book every woman should read … a deeply emotional exploration of our secret lives, innermost desires, and the mistakes that change families forever. No one writes about love, in all its beautiful mess, the way Santopolo does' Carley Fortune
'The breathtakingly redemptive love story we’ve been dying for. Exquisitely written, it proves that love is possible again and again. Santopolo writes with such emotional precision that you will feel every heartbeat on every page' Annabel Monaghan
Praise for Jill Santopolo:
‘This book kept me up at night, turning the pages to find out, and the ending did not disappoint.’ Reese Witherspoon
‘Santopolo is a true master of matters of the heart.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid
‘A stunning book, perfect and unputdownable.’ Jill Mansell
‘Emotional and heartbreaking.’ Sarah Morgan
‘An epic love story.’ Prima Magazine
‘A one-sitting kind of book. Fans of One Day by David Nicholls will love this.’ Stylist Magazine
‘Your new tearjerker has arrived: Fans of Me Before You and One Day will love/weep over this elegant novel.’ NewYorkPost
978-0-00-855137-7
352pp
27 Mar 2025
£ 16.99
Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
DS Max Craigie Scottish Crime Thrillers (6)
When Shadows Fall
Neil Lancaster
• Neil’s first novel, DeadMan’sGrave , was longlisted for the 2021 McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year, and was also named Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month.
• His second novel, TheBloodTide,was also longlisted for the 2022 McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year and was shortlisted for Best New Series at the Dead Good Reader Awards.
• Perfect for fans of Scottish police procedurals, and readers of Stuart MacBride, Denzil Meyrick, Alex Gray and Ian Rankin.
• The author is an Ex-Detective and Military Policeman who uses his first-hand xperiences to bring authenticity to his stories. He is also a broadcaster who regularly appears on Sky TV to comment on true crime documentaries.
• Neil was a detective on the famous Levi Bellfield serial killer case.
Crime Don't miss Book 6 in the DS Max Craigie Series!
Readership General
NEIL LANCASTER is the No. 1 digital bestselling author of both the Tom Novak and Max Craigie series. His first Craigie novel, Dead Man’s Grave, was longlisted for the 2021 McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The second Craigie novel, The Blood Tide, topped several ebook and audio charts. It was also longlisted for the 2022 McIlvanney Prize and shortlisted for Best New Series at the Dead Good Reader Awards.
Neil served as a military policeman and worked for the Metropolitan Police as a detective, investigating serious crimes in the capital and beyond. As a covert policing specialist, he used all manner of techniques to investigate and disrupt major crime and criminals. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands, writes crime and thriller novels and works as a broadcaster and commentator on true crime documentaries. He is an expert on two Sky Crime TV series, Meet, Marry, Murder and Made for Murder X: https://x.com/neillancaster66
Available to pre-order now! * * *
A TRAGIC DEATH
When the body of Leanne Wilson is found at the bottom of a Scottish mountain, it is classified as a tragic accident. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise.
A RISING BODY COUNT
Then DS Max Craigie discovers that five other women in the last year have died by falling off mountains, and something feels very wrong. They were all experienced climbers and alone when they died. This can only mean one thing: there’s a killer on the loose.
A KILLER IN THE SHADOWS
The more Max investigates, the more he believes that they are dealing with something much bigger than a lone serial killer. With five victims and conflicting clues, how do you catch someone committing the perfect crime? *
Praise for Neil Lancaster:
‘Think Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty’ Ian Rankin
‘Fast-paced, compelling, and deeply authentic’ Jane Casey
‘Neil Lancaster is so damn clever’ Marion Todd
‘A thriller writer set to blow up the bestseller lists’ C. L. Taylor
‘Deliciously dark’ Daily Mail
978-0-00-866915-7
448pp
15 Apr 2025
£ 20.00
Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
Readership
Matthew Sullivan received his MFA from the University of Idaho and has been a resident writer at Yaddo, Centrum, and the Vermont Studio Center. His short stories have been awarded the Robert Olen Butler Fiction Prize and the Florida Review Editors’ Award for Fiction. His writing has been featured in Modern Love, The Daily Beast, and Shelf Awareness amongst others. His first novel, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, was an Indie Next pick, a B&N Discover pick, and one of SUSPENSE Magazine's Best Debuts of 2017.
Midnight in Soap Lake
Matthew Sullivan
• Character-driven and atmospheric literary thriller with a strong sense of place, set in an isolated rural community in the Pacific Northwest
• Upmarket fiction perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Chris Whitaker, Lucy Foley and Anna Bailey.
• A fantastic, assured debut.’ Elly Griffiths on Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
A multi-layered mystery about the secrets of small towns, the lore that emerges from tragedy and the cost of being an outsider thrust into the spotlight.
When Abigail agreed to move to Soap Lake, Washington for her husband’s research she expected old growth forests and craft beer, folksy neighbors and the World’s Largest Lava LampTM. Instead she finds a dry, desolate landscape around a town barely subsisting on its meager crop and haunted by an urban legend both childish and terrifying. After her husband suddenly jets off to Poland for a sixmonth research trip, she’s all alone, a stranger in a strange land.
But when a young boy covered in blood runs out of the barren desert right into Abigail’s arms, her life becomes entwined with his and the questions surrounding his mother’s death.
No one in Soap Lake had heard from Esme Calderon in eight years before she was found dead in her car in the middle of the desert with a four-year-old in tow. The authorities are quick to write off the killing as a drug deal gone bad but Abigail can’t shake the feeling there’s more to the story. In her search for answers she enlists the help of a recovering addict-turned-librarian, a grieving brother, a broken motel owner, and a mentally-shattered conspiracy theorist to unearth Esme’s tragic past, the town’s violent history, and the secret magic locked in the lake her husband was sent there to study.
As she gets closer to the answers, past and present crimes begin to collide, and Abigail finds herself gaining the unwelcome attention of the town’s unofficial mascot, that urban legend, the gas-masked, rubber-suited orchard stalker known as TreeTop, a specter who seems to be lurking in every dark shadow and around every shady corner.
Praise for the author
‘This book ticked all the boxes for me: an engaging heroine, an intriguing premise, interesting characters and a plot that involved books, readers and the very darkest human passions. A fantastic, assured debut.’ Elly Griffiths, bestselling author of TheCrossingPlaces
‘With Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, Matthew Sullivan has written—with great panache and suspense—a smart, twisty crime novel filled with compelling characters set in a world that book-lovers will adore.’ Jess Walter, # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins
‘There is a clever, erudite puzzle plot in this bookish mystery, along with whip-smart writing. Matthew Sullivan’s debut is stylish and entertaining.’ Ellen Crosby, author of The Champagne Conspiracy
‘An intriguingly dark, twisty story and eccentric characters make this book a standout.’ KirkusReviews
‘Quirky characters and a keen sense of place distinguish this multi-generational tale of abandonment, desperation, and betrayal . . . inventive and intricately plotted.’ PublishersWeekly, starred review
‘This quirky debut novel will have particular appeal for puzzle solvers and booklovers.’ Booklist
978-0-00-868368-9
10 Apr 2025
£ 9.99
Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective
Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar
• A wonderfully inventive, fun and invigorating novel, written by two great writers who have joined forces to bring their respective fields of obsession to the page. There’s series potential, but the novel stands beautifully alone too.
• 16 December 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and Feb 2025 publication ties into key Austen moment when she is in the public consciousness
• Ready-made fanbase: perfect for readers ofTheMurderofMr.Wickham by Claudia Gray, Prideand Premeditation by Tirzah Price,DeathComestoPemberley by P.D. James, not to mention theJaneAusten Mysteries Series by Stephanie Barron (ongoing, at 14-books) with dashes ofAgathaRaisinandSanditon TV series.
• Gives fan favourite characters who aren’t so developed in Pride and Prejudice their own stories and voices for the first time: fiercely independent Caroline Bingley is the protagonist and she’s supported in her investigation by Georgiana Darcy.
Subject
Kelly Gardiner writes historical fiction for all age, including The Firewatcher Chronicles, Goddess, based on the life of Mademoiselle de Maupin; 1917: Australia’s Great War, shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize and Asher Award; the Swashbuckler pirate trilogy; and her young adult novels Act of Faith and The Sultan’s Eyes were both shortlisted for awards. A former journalist and editor, Kelly now teaches creative writing.
Sharmini Kumar is the founder and Artistic Director of 24 Carrot Productions and a producer of AustenCon, an annual Jane Austen celebration now in its fifth year. She has adapted several Austen novels for the stage, and has written, directed and produced many performance pieces and short films including Shakespeare in Therapy and The Regina Monologues. When she's not writing and directing, she works as a doctor and teaches Medicine.
A fun, funny and thoroughly imaginative take on Jane Austen.
A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure. Only her fine eyes can uncover the truth.
Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Miss Caroline Bingley is staying at her brother's country estate within an easy ride of Mr and Mrs Darcy's home, Pemberley, and wondering if there's more to life than playing cribbage and paying calls on country neighbours.
So when Georgiana Darcy's maid, Jayani, vanishes – and worse, Georgiana disappears in search of her – Caroline races to London to find them both, and quickly discovers a shocking, cold-blooded murder.
Soon Caroline and Georgiana are careering through the gritty, grimy underbelly of London assisted by Caroline's trusty manservant, Gordon, and demanding answers of shady characters, police magistrates and mysterious East India Company-men to discover the killer. Along the way they uncover the cost of Empire on India and its people … and Miss Bingley's incomparable powers of investigation.
As Caroline puts her superior new talents to work, she finds out exactly what an accomplished, independent woman with a sharp mind and a large fortune can achieve – even when pitted against secrets, scandal, and a murderer with no mercy.
978-0-00-855888-8
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)
Jesse Sutanto
• VERA WONG is KNIVESOUTmeets KIM’SCONVENIENCEand sits alongside Nita Prose’s THEMAIDand Bella Mackie’s HOWTOKILLYOURFAMILY
• Can be read as a standalone or as a follow up to the hugely successful, VERA WONG’sUNSOLICITEDADVICEFORMURDERERS
• Jesse is the award-winning author of DIALAFORAUNTIESwhich is soon to be a major Netflix film
The must-read cozy crime from the bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties
Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing…
Subject
Readership General
Jesse Sutanto is an author of books for children and adults. She received her Masters from the University of Oxford and a BA in English Literature from Berkeley. She grew up in Indonesia and Singapore and currently lives in Jakarta with her husband and two daughters. The film rights to her women’s fiction, Dial A for Aunties, was bought by Netflix in a competitive bidding war.
You can find out more about Jesse on her website www.jesseqsutantoauthor.com and follow her on Twitter @thewritinghippo and on Facebook and Instagram @JesseQSutanto
Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective?
Vera Wong, tea house owner and occasional sleuth should feel content. Her son Tilly has moved in with his girlfriend, and the shop has been inundated with customers.
But Vera can’t help feeling a little… bored. Sometimes, all an old lady wants is a murder to solve. Is that too much to ask for?
Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman called Millie, whose friend Xander has gone missing. Is this Vera's chance to get out her trusty notebook and solve another mystery?
Knives Out meets Kim’s Convenience for anyone who loves solving mysteries by Richard Osman and Janice Hallett, and watching Death in Paradise and Marlow Murder Club.
‘Jesse Sutanto has created a great comic character in Vera. If you thought murder couldn’t be warmhearted, hilarious and have a twist, think again’ Fiona Leitch, bestselling author of ACornish ChristmasMurder
‘A really heartwarming read’ Faith Martin, bestselling author of MurderbyCandlelight
‘I thoroughly loved it. With a Vera in your life nothing bad can ever happen!’ J. M. Hall, bestselling author of ASpoonfulofMurder
Praise for Jesse Sutanto:
’Feisty and smart, Vera makes for a fun and quirky sleuth’ Heat
‘Had me laughing aloud within its first five pages. Charming, hilarious and heartfelt’ Emily Henry, New YorkTimesbestselling author of BeachRead
‘A dazzling debut full of humour and love. A comedy caper, doused in black humour, comical references, mixed with romance – fans of CrazyRichAsianswill love it’ MyWeekly
‘Brilliant, wicked and dead, dead funny’ Andi Osho, AskingForAFriend
‘A gloriously screwball crime caper (with a dusting of romance) which will have you snort-laughing’ Red
‘This smart, funny charming novel has all the right ingredients to make you laugh out loud… A heartfelt rom-com’ Platinum
978-0-00-850858-6
24 Apr 2025
Subject
Louise Jensen is a global No.1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Louise has sold over a million copies of her books and her novels have been sold for translation in twenty-five countries, as well as being featured on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestsellers’ lists. Louise was nominated for the Goodreads Debut Author of 2016 Award and the Guardian’s Not the Booker 2018. Louise’s thrillers have been optioned for TV and film.
Louise Jensen
• Louise Jensen is the global number one bestselling author of eight previous novels and has sold over a million books worldwide
• Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas, Clare Mackintosh and Shari Lapena
• Nominated for the Goodreads Debut Author of 2016 Award & The Guardian’s NottheBooker 2018 for THEDATE
The nail-biting new thriller from Louise Jensen that's impossible to put down…
The Abbotts’ new lodger Luke hasn’t told them much about himself, but they can’t expect to know everything about a stranger who’s just moved in.
Only Luke keeps asking about their family photos, and snooping through their things. Why does he want to know everything about them?
Then, suddenly, Mum Mel texts the family to say she needs a break. But Mel has never gone away on her own before. And now it’s been days and no one can get hold of her. While daughters Jen and Amy frantically try to find their mum they're alone with Luke. They're scared, and they should be.
The Abbotts’ house is full of secrets and someone is prepared to go to horrifying lengths to protect them.
They say people never tell the whole truth. They’re right.
‘Packed with suspense and tension as lives unravel with each secret that's revealed’ Alice Hunter
‘A gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller you won’t want to stop reading!’ Lauren North
Praise for Louise Jensen
‘Louise Jensen is the master of suspense.’ Kia Abdullah
‘The term pageturner was made for books like this’ Andrea Mara
‘A clever, complex, twisty tale of a family unravelling, and an absolute page turner of a story. A mustread for lovers of psychological thrillers.’ J A Corrigan
‘This book has it all! I was desperate to know how it was going to end’ J L Blackhurst
‘A galloping pulse-pounder’ Heat
‘A very good study of vulnerability, and how our best intentions can often lead us astray’ The Guardian
‘You’ll be left open-mouthed’ Woman’s Weekly
978-0-00-871480-2
Subject
Readership General
JANE BETTANY is a writer of short stories and non-fiction books and articles. Her work has been published in women's magazines in the UK (such as My Weekly, People's Friend, Yours and Woman's Weekly), as well as in literary magazines and newspapers. She has an MA in Creative Writing and has been a teacher of creative writing since 2007. As well as writing and teaching, she also runs a publishing and communications company and loves helping people to share their stories and find their writing voice.
A Violet Brewster Mystery (4) Murder on Bluebell Hill
Jane Bettany
Don't miss the next gripping instalment in the Violet Brewster series!
In a quaint village in the Peak District, murder is brewing…
Violet Brewster is settling into the quiet life in Merrywell. The last thing she needs is to get mixed up in a police investigation…
When a snazzy tearoom opens at the local garden centre on Bluebell Hill, residents flock to visit the establishment. But not everyone is happy about the new business venture…
Matters escalate when the owner of the tearoom is found dead on the premises. As Violet unwittingly finds herself at the centre of another murder mystery, can she shift suspicion away from those closest to her and find the true culprit?
Praise for the Violet Brewster series:
'An entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ Clare Chase
'A perfect cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully-drawn setting.' Roz Watkins
'If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache
Read more Violet Brewster mysteries. These books can be read in order or as stand-alone stories:
1)Murder in Merrywell
2)Murder at the Book Festival
3)Murder at Maple Grange
4)Murder on Bluebell Hill
978-0-00-873716-0
10 Apr 2025
Subject
Readership
HELEN PHIFER lives in a small town called Barrow-in-Furness with her husband and five children. She has lived in the same town since she was born. It gets some bad press but really is a lovely place to live, surrounded by coastline and not far from the Lake District, where she likes to spend at least one of her days off from work. She has always loved writing and reading and loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Unable to find enough scary stories to read, she decided to write her own.
You can contact or follow Helen on her blog at helenphiferblog. wordpress.com, her website at www. helenphifer.com and on Twitter, @helenphifer1.
The Annie Graham crime series (4) The Lake House
Helen Phifer
The thrilling fourth book in the AnnieGrahamcrime thriller series
A serial killer on the loose. A mystery that must be solved before time runs out.
Elderly Martha Beckett is a prisoner in her own home, and has been ever since her older brother disappeared at just nine years old.
He went to hide in the cellar and never came back. And now Martha has sworn to protect anyone else from the evils lurking just below her floorboards. But whatever it is, has woken up – and is hungry again…
When she calls the police for help, Annie Graham is the first to respond. Now Annie Ashworth, she is happily married to fellow police officer Will, with a gorgeous home and a job she loves. But then she hears the news – serial killer Henry Smith has escaped from his mental hospital and is on the run. So when a severed head lands at her colleague Jake’s feet, they can only assume that Henry is back to his old tricks. Last time he nearly killed Annie, and this time she’ll bet he wants to finish the job.
So Annie now has two monsters to track down, before they kill again. And time is running out…
Look out for more from the series:
• The Ghost House
• Secrets of the Shadows
• The Forgotten Cottage
• The Lake House
• The Girls in the Woods
• The Face Behind the Mask
Readers love the AnnieGraham series!
'This is a fantastic story… An excellent combo of "who-dunnit", tragic timelines and haunted houses' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book had me reading into the early hours of the morning, I just loved it… I was there with Annie and felt the hairs stand up on a few occasions. Great start to a new series' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
'This book is raved about by all who read it and rightly so… It is a startling good read which grips you from the first few pages… I COULD NOT put this book down!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'There were times I totally lost myself in the plot… I even found myself sat up at 4am racing through the last couple of chapters as I wanted to know what happened. I loved it' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
978-0-00-870697-5
24 Apr 2025
£ 9.99
Paperback
Subject
Readership
Leia Stone is the USA Today bestselling author of multiple bestselling series including Matefinder, Wolf Girl, Fallen Academy and Kings of Avalier. She's sold over three million books and her Fallen Academy series has been optioned for film. Her novels have been translated into five languages and she even dabbles in script writing. Leia writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance with sassy kick-butt heroines and irresistible love interests. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband and two children.
Julie Hall is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author. She writes YA paranormal / fantasy novels, loves doodles, and drinks Red Bull, but not necessarily in that order. Julie's daughter says that her super power is sleeping all day and writing all night… and well, she wouldn't be wrong. Julie currently lives in Colorado with her four favourite people – her husband, daughter, and two fur babies.
Cursed Fae (3) Broken Hearted
Leia Stone and Julie Hall
• Book 3 in a romantasy series of four loosely interconnected titles featuring a different fae lord and the princess he marries. Each book can also be read as a standalone.
• Fast-paced, accessible and great fun to read, full of intense character chemistry but nothing too explicit, perfect for an audience of girls aged 12+ and fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Raven Kennedy
• All the most popular tropes: Forced Proximity; Enemies-to-Lovers; Fated Mates; Only One Bed; Happily Ever After!
An inter-connected romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas
The Winter Court princess Isolde must find the next piece of the puzzle to end the curse ravaging her lands.
My world is dying, and only I can save it.
When the princesses of Summer and Fall disappeared in Ethereum, the burden of stopping the curse that’s tearing Faerie apart fell to me. My mission is clear: kill an Ethereum lord and return with his magical black heart to save our land.
But I know a secret no one else does—Dawn and Aribella are alive, and everything I’ve been told about the Ethereum lords is a lie. Not only that, but there may be another way to break the curse once and for all.
At least, that’s what they claim.
I want to believe them, because when I gaze into the captivating teal eyes of the Southern Ethereum lord, the thought of driving a dagger through his heart becomes impossible to imagine. But trusting them could cost me everything.
Now, I’m torn between loyalty and truth, with no idea who to trust. The clock is ticking, and the fate of Faerie rests in my hands.
Perfect for fans of: Enemies to Lovers ��
Only One Bed ��
Forbidden Love ��
Readers LOVE the Cursed Fae series: 'Richly imagined…an absolute must-read' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I simply cannot wait for book 2' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-875154-8
24 Apr 2025
£ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership General
Max Connor is the pseudonym for bestselling and award-winning author Neil Lancaster. He served as a military policeman and worked for the Metropolitan Police as a detective, investigating serious crimes in the capital and beyond. As a covert policing specialist, he used all manner of techniques to investigate and disrupt major crime and criminals. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands and works as a broadcaster and commentator on true crime documentaries. He is an expert on two Sky Crime TV series, Meet, Marry, Murder and Made for Murder
Writing as Neil Lancaster, he is the author of the DS Max Craigie books, which have been twice longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year.
No Mercy
Max Connor
• Martina Cole meets Lee Child: a group of retired ex-military men reunite to retrieve the stolen medals from their recently dead comrade and avenge his murder.
• Blends the best of heist thriller tropes with action-packed, adrenaline-filled storytelling.
• Introduces Josie Chapman, a heroine readers will follow into future books. Josie, full of adventurous spirit and a strong sense of justice, transforms into a Villanelle-style character, but with a very strong moral code.
• Explores strong themes of loyalty, justice, and the lasting impact of military services. It explores how the bonds formed in combat can lead ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and the moral complexities of vigilante justice. Also touches on the challenges veterans face: PTSD, financial struggles, difficulties transitioning back to civilian life.
• The author is an ex-Military Policeman and Detective – who worked on the famous Levi Bellfield serial killer case – and who uses his first-hand experiences to bring real authenticity to his stories
• He is also a broadcaster who regularly appears on TV to comment on true crime documentaries. Most recently he has appeared a key expert on two Sky TV series, Meet,Marry,Murderand MadeForMurder
The old unit will reunite to complete one last mission in honour of their fallen comrade. But all she wants is revenge …
When their old comrade, retired veteran and decorated Royal Marine Frankie Chapman, dies during a home invasion, the 11/06 club come back together to recover his stolen military medals. After they find out the medals have fallen into the hands of a wealthy billionaire who dabbles in human trafficking, they form a plan to steal the medals back – and Frankie’s daughter, Josie, wants in on the action.
But Josie wants more than just her father’s medals returned. She wants retribution, and she’s out for blood … * * *
978-0-00-864052-1
24 Apr 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
TESSA HARRIS read History at Oxford University and has been a journalist, writing for several national newspapers and magazines for more than thirty years. She is the author of nine published historical novels. Her debut, The Anatomist’s Apprentice, won the Romantic Times First Best Mystery Award 2012 in the US. She lectures in creative writing at Hawkwood College, Stroud and is married with two children. She lives in the Cotswolds.
Facebook: Tessa Harris Author
Twitter:@harris_tessa
www.tessaharrisauthor.com
The Florence Sisters
Tessa Harris
• Tessa is well connected in the historical fiction author community, particularly with others who live in the Cotswolds, including Mandy Robotham, Sarah Steele and Dinah Jeffries.
• Tessa is strongly loved by her readers, and her previous Italian historical novel THE TUSCAN DAUGHTER has a 4.5 star average on Amazon
T
he brand-new, heart-wrenching and emotional Italian historical fiction novel from Tessa Harris, bestselling author of Beneath a Starless Sky!
A war-torn city. A stolen masterpiece. Two lives in the balance…
Italy, 1940. With Florence on the cusp of war, Il Scorpione, the no-nonsense Englishwomen of the city, find their genteel livelihoods under grave threat by the approach of the Nazis. Tea rooms and bookshops are closed by the Fascists, and the women are forced to join the war effort.
Desperate to help in any way that she can, Angelina Leone, expert art-historian and the half-Italian niece of Il Scoprione’s founder makes a deal with the devil. To guarantee her beloved aunt Agatha, the only family she has, safe passage across the city, Lina must authenticate the art ruthlessly stolen from Jewish families. But when she comes across a priceless portrait – one that she cannot bear to see sieged by the Germans – Lina declares the masterpiece a fake. But in doing so, will she set off a chain of events with consequences more deadly than she could ever imagine …
Readers have been swept away by Tessa Harris:
'Richly told … a must for all fans of WW2 fiction' Mandy Robotham
‘A really well researched novel with a dramatic ending' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'An absolute masterpiece' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A thrilling, chilling close-up of the battle to save Italy from within' Sarah Steele
‘I loved this story, it is one of the few that I have read focusing on Italy … fascinating' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An amazing and sentimental look at one Englishwoman's war in Italy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Tessa Harris:
'I was swept away by this heart-rending, gripping page-turner set in beautiful Tuscany. A must-read for fans of World War Two fiction' Annie Lyons
'The beauty of the Italian countryside is a stunning backdrop for an ugly war of betrayal, cruelty and love, richly told here by Tessa Harris. A must for all fans of WW2 fiction' Many Robotham
'Packed with atmosphere, this wartime resistance drama is a thrilling, chilling close-up of the battle to save Italy from within' Sarah Steele
978-0-00-874019-1
8 May 2025
The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits
Jennifer Weiner
• A richly imagined world of music and fame, with high-concept plot, juicy themes and a spectacular cast of characters – this is perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sally Hepworth and Kristin Hannah.
• Jennifer Weiner is an iconic NewYorkTimesbestselling author of over 20 books.
A story of sisters, love and the power of music, perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six!
'Weiner is the undisputed queen of the fun yet thoughtful poolside read' Vogue
Famecomesataprice…
Subject
Readership
JENNIFER WEINER is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two books, including the novels Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Mrs. Everything, and The Breakaway. She has appeared on many national television programs, including the Today show and Good Morning America, and her work is frequently published by the New York Times. Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.
'A winning combination of a light read with serious emotional depth, the very mix Weiner's many fans have come to expect from her' Booklist 368pp Royal 234x153, Hardback
Sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were born just a year apart but could not have been more different. Zoe, blessed with charm and beauty, yearned for fame from the moment she could sing into a hairbrush. Cassie was a musical prodigy who never felt at home in her own skin and preferred the safety of the shadows.
On the brink of adulthood in the early 2000s, destiny intervened, catapulting the sisters into the spotlight as the pop sensation the Griffin Sisters, hitting all the touchstones of early aughts fame— SNL, MTV, Rolling Stone magazine—along the way.
But after a whirlwind year in the public eye, the band abruptly broke up.
Two decades later, Zoe’s a housewife; Cassie’s off the grid. The sisters aren’t speaking, and the real reason for the Griffin Sisters’ breakup is still a mystery. Zoe’s teenage daughter, Cherry, who’s determined to be a star in spite of Zoe’s warnings, is on a quest to learn the truth about what happened to the band all those years ago.
As secrets emerge, all three women must face the consequences of their choices: the ones they made and the ones the music industry made for them. Can they forgive each other—and themselves?And will the Griffin Sisters ever make music again?
One of the most anticipated books of the year, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, a glimmering novel set in the world of pop music about sisters, motherhood, young love, and the dreams we chase.
Praise for Jennifer Weiner:
'Like Helen Fielding, Weiner balances fresh humour, deft characterisations, and literary sensibility' Guardian
'If you have time for only one book this summer, pick this one' New York Times
'An ambitious, immersive novel' Red Magazine
978-0-00-856643-2
384pp
8 May 2025
Royal 234x153, Hardback
Subject
Readership
Helen Monks Takhar worked as a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor having graduated from Cambridge in 1997. She began her career writing for financial trade newspapers in 1999 before contributing to UK national newspapers including The Times and The Observer. Born in Southport, Merseyside in 1976, she lives in North London with her husband and two daughters. PreciousYouis her first novel.
The Marriage Rule
Helen Monks Takhar
A propulsive domestic thriller with an urgent message for fans of Lisa Jewell and Jessica Knoll that asks, What’s the one thing you need to do to stay married? and blows apart the uncomfortable answers.
Elle never dreamed she’d end up with a man like Dom. He’s handsome, successful, the perfect father to their baby girl.
But Elle doesn’t feel the joy she knows she should. She's struggling with being a mum, failing at work, even her post-baby body doesn’t feel like her own. Not that Dom cares. He worships Elle and craves intimacy as deeply as troubled Elle wants to shy away from it.
Elle starts relying on red wine and the attention of new colleague Gabriel to get through her day. But the morning after a team away day, a bewildered and hungover Elle wakes up with a lifeless body in her bed. She knows devoted Dom is the only person who’ll give her any chance of getting out of there a free woman.
Elle would never have ended up in such danger if she’d followed the rule of marriage, the one thing she’s been told a wife needs to do, even if it breaks her…
978-0-00-871946-3
8 May 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Science fiction and fantasy General
Melissa K. Roehrich is a dark fantasy romance author that loves coffee, dragons, and constantly rearranging her bookshelves. She spends her time writing, reading, and homeschooling her three boys in the Middleof-Nowhere, North Dakota, where she lives with her boys, husband, three dogs, multiple barn cats, and chickens on a small farmstead. She is constantly trying to convince her husband they need to add goats and ducks to the mix, and one day, she'll succeed.
Lady of Darkness (4) Lady of Embers
Melissa K. Roehrich
• Book 4 in a dark romantasy series of five titles, each building a complex story arc and ending on a cliffhanger
• Fast-paced, accessible and great fun to read, full of intense character chemistry but nothing incredibly explicit. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Raven Kennedy
• All the most popular tropes: Forced Proximity; Enemies-to-Lovers; Only One Bed; Found Family etc.
There was no preparing for her storm
Wrath.
When they met her, she was a whirlwind of shadows and darkness. Standing among the ashes of betrayal and grief, now she is a tempest of rage and malice. Queen Scarlett Aditya will hunt them all down, one by one, and make them pay. Starting with the one who took her brightest star from her. Acceptance.
She knows she will come for her. Her betrayal was too great. She deserves the storm of fury that will end her, but until then Queen Talwyn Semiria will protect a secret that could turn the tides in the coming war. But when the time comes to pay for her sins, will she be able to give up everything? And will it even be enough?
Hope.
A kingdom wrapped in mystery, locked away behind wards to protect its secrets. That is where the last hope of King Callan Solgard lies to get his throne back. But does he even want it any more? Will it cost him more than what he’s already lost? Or will new nightmares draw him from the light and into the darkness?
It’s time to start a fire and let it burn.
PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
978-0-00-875527-0
8 May 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Jane Loftus studied 16th Century European history before taking a postgraduate degree in modern political history. As a lone parent, she worked in Winchester Waterstones before taking a job in IT. This novel was written in the evenings while she was raising her son. Hugely passionate about the Middle Ages, she drew inspiration for this novel from the medieval layout of Winchester which has been painstakingly documented.
The Herb Knot Jane Lofus
• Epic historical - meticulous research and addictive storytelling combine in this thrilling debut exploring family secrets, conspiracy, revenge and redemption, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Chadwick and Ann Swinfen
• The Herb Knot is the first volume in the spellbindingWinchesterHours series, full of love and war, betrayal and conspiracy
• Bringing 14th Century England to life, during the Hundred Years War – the most turbulent period of the Middle Ages – set in England’s then capital city, Winchester
• TheHerbKnotwas inspired by the true story behind the seal of a 14th Century mayor of Winchester which currently resides in the Hampshire Records Office
The Hundred Years' War comes to life in this spellbinding tale of love, betrayal and conspiracy
A quest born on the battlefield will change a young boy’s destiny…
Rafi Dubois is five years old when his mother is murdered after the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Alone and lost, Rafi is given a token by the dying Englishman who tried to save his mother’s life: a half-broken family seal which he urges Rafi to return one day to Winchester.
Years later, when Rafi saves a wealthy merchant’s wife from a brutal robbery, he is rewarded with the chance to travel to England, taking the seal with him.
But when he reaches Winchester, Rafi finds himself in a turbulent world full of long-held allegiances, secrets and treachery. His path is fraught with danger and with powerful enemies working against him, Rafi falls in love with Edith, a market apothecary, trapped in a loveless marriage. In doing so, Rafi unleashes a deadly chain of events which threatens to overwhelm them both…
The Herb Knot is a sweeping and passionate novel set in one of the most tumultuous times in English history, from a powerful new voice.
No Turning Back
Steve Frech
• A catch 22, race against the clock thriller. An ordinary man faces an extraordinary situation. Will he help a killer in order to keep his family safe?
A gripping, heart-pounding action-packed thriller from the author of The Good Husband
Lucas and Julia are about to become parents, but there’s something Lucas hasn’t told his wife. Two months ago, he lost his job and has been secretly working as a rideshare driver in a desperate attempt to make ends meet.
But that’s about the be the least of his problems. One evening he picks up a passenger in the Hollywood Hills. The man, Damon, puts a gun to Lucas’s head, and tells him to drive.
Because Damon has a list of men he intends to kill, and he needs Lucas’s help. If Lucas complies, his family will be safe, but others will suffer. If he fights back, Damon will target his wife and daughter.
It’s an impossible choice, but what’s clear is that Lucas’s life is about to change forever. If he survives the night.
READERS LOVE STEVE FRECH!
'I was hooked from the start and finished this book in 1 day. I couldn't read it fast enough'
'A dizzying whirlwind with layer after layer of secrecy'
'Great characters, a fast-moving plot and superb writing'
978-0-00-873970-6
8 May 2025
Subject
I write historical fiction, a genre I love. I loved the Victorian classics such as Jane Eyre, Little Women, Lorna Doone and Wuthering Heights. As I child I loved to read and when I had read my own library books, I used to borrow my mother's library copies of Anya Seton and Daphne du Maurier. I have loved reading historical novels ever since; though I'm a bookaholic and I read widely –contemporary and classic fiction as well as historicals.
In the past I used to work as a set and costume designer for theatre and TV, so I enjoy the research aspect of creating historical fiction, something I loved doing as a scenographer. Each book takes about six months of research before I am ready to begin writing. More details of my research and writing process can be found on my website. I like to write about extraordinary characters set against the background of real historical events.
Last Train to Freedom
Deborah Swift
To share the truth, she must survive the journey …
Lithuania, 1940. Amidst the chaos of war, one journey holds the key to survival—and the truth.
When the Russians invade Lithuania, Zofia and her brother Jacek fear for their lives. As a journalist, Jacek is targeted by the new communist regime, which despises intellectuals and condemns them to hard labor in the gulags, where few survive.
Hearing rumors that the Japanese consul Sugihara might offer them exit visas, Zofia knows she must seize this chance for freedom. In return, Sugihara asks them to deliver a parcel to Tokyo—an innocuous request, until they discover it contains intelligence about Nazi atrocities that the Nazis are desperate to retrieve.
As if the threat from the Nazis isn't enough, the Russians are still on their tail, determined to eliminate anyone with anti-communist sentiments. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, the government is on the brink of signing an agreement with the Nazis to close Japanese borders to Jewish refugees.
Desperate to save others like herself, Zofia embarks on a perilous six-thousand-mile journey on the Trans-Siberian Express, carrying the damning evidence through the harsh wilderness of Siberia, with both Nazi and Soviet agents in pursuit.
Can Zofia survive the journey and succeed in her mission to deliver the truth?
Praise for Deborah Swift:
'This impeccably researched wartime thriller had me gripped from the opening pages – I loved it. My pulse was racing and at times my heart broke as Nancy's intelligence operation in The Hague grew more dangerous by the day' Eliza Graham
'A fast-paced, exciting read … kept me reading late on several nights. Will appeal to all lovers of both romance and wartime novels' Kathleen McGurl
'Had me gripped from beginning to end … Swift portrays the last desperate months of the war in Holland so vividly I found it hard to put Operation Tulip down' Eva Glyn
'A nail-biting read from start to finish. Edge-of-your-seat action and a desperate romance make this a must for WW2 fiction fans' Tessa Harris
978-0-00-866574-6
22 May 2025
£ 16.99
That Time Everything Was On Fire
Kerry Downes
• Draws on the author’s own experiences of infertility treatment
• Warm and funny – explores weighty themes but never feels heavy
• Vivid sense of place, extremely well drawn and relatable characters, thoughtfully handled‘issues’ (as above, in/fertility and motherhood, plus the quiet class divide, sexuality, mental health crises) Largely set across London – ideal for London indie bookshops – plus Australia and Whitby
A warm, funny, painfully relatable debut novel about friendship, coming of age in your 30s and finding your purpose. For fans of Anna Hope, Nina Stibbe and Holly Bourne.
‘Heart-warming, funny and so relatable. This book made me want to cling to my life-long friendships –and listen to Fleetwood Mac.’ Laura Dockrill, author of I Love You, I Love You, I Love You
Subject
Readership General
Kerry Downes grew up in East Yorkshire and has spent the last decade in south London, working as an NHS specialist audiologist. Her journey through fertility treatment over the last few years inspired parts of this novel. Frustrated by a lack of representation she recognised, she wanted to paint a new picture, in all its grit and glory, with heart, humour, and hope. She’s an alumna of Curtis Brown Creatives’ selective three-month novel writing course, and was shortlisted for the 2021 TLC Pen Factor prize. She lives in Brighton with her husband and little boy.
Sam and Daisy have been best friends since university. Back then Daisy was a wild, Fleetwood-Macobsessed girl descended from the Yorkshire Moors, while Sam’s youth was misspent traipsing around Liverpool on shopping trips and nights out. Bonded by a wicked sense of humour, the shock of being surrounded by hordes of southerners, and a tradition of ironically blowing kisses that got out of hand –their friendship is a glorious amalgamation of shared delights and individual quirks.
But as they lean against each other on a wooden bench in the tired garden at the back of their beloved local pub, gazing out at Sam’s wedding, reminiscing and revelling in the party – their paths are about to truly diverge for the first time.
As Sam’s desire to become a mum consumes her, and Daisy’s inability to resist temptation haunts her, these best of friends will lose sight of themselves – and each other. With each misstep and unintentional betrayal the gulf widens. But can they build a bridge – or will they let it burn?
‘Heart-warming, funny and so relatable. This book made me want to cling to my life-long friendships –and listen to Fleetwood Mac.’ Laura Dockrill, author of I Love You, I Love You, I Love You
978-0-00-869959-8
22 May 2025
384pp Royal 234x153, Paperback
Subject
Readership
Melissa Hill is a USA Today, Irish Times and international bestselling author living in County Wicklow, Ireland. Her page-turning contemporary novels of family, friendship and romance are published worldwide and translated into twenty-six languages, with many adapted for film and TV.
Only in New York
Melissa Hill
• #1 Irish bestselling author for HQ in 2019
• Sparky enemies-to-lovers romance wrapped up in two layered stories of redemption
• Ice hockey player love interest
He makes trouble.
She makes headlines.
A warm and funny enemies-to-lovers romance set in New York from the No. 1 Irish Times bestselling author of The Summer Villa
'Hill doesn't disappoint' Irish Times
������
LA Publicist Hannah is ready to put her broken heart behind her and start afresh. So when a celebrity client offers to lend her a luxury penthouse apartment in New York City, Hannah jumps at the chance.
But it turns out that balancing a new job and new neighbours is harder than Hannah imagined. With a troublesome – yet undeniably attractive – client making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the secretive curmudgeon next door seemingly on a mission to get her out, Hannah has her hands full.
It’s going to take all her best PR tricks to win over each of these cynics. But it isn’t only their walls that begin breaking down. And as Hannah begins to open her own heart to all the possibilities the city has to offer, a chance at love might be closer than she thinks.
This is New York, after all.
������ Praise for Melissa Hill:
‘I was completely gripped’ Sarah Morgan
‘Addictive!’ Grazia
‘Another great read from the bestselling Irish author’ Hello!
‘This emotive story will touch your heart’ My Weekly
‘Blissfully escapist’ Marie Claire
‘Will keep you turning the pages until the very end’ Woman
‘Gripping!’ Bella
‘An absorbing tale … Hill doesn’t disappoint’ Irish Independent
‘Emotional and cleverly crafted with well-drawn characters’ The People
978-0-00-874410-6
320pp
22 May 2025
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership General
Liane Child is writer whose gripping thriller THETRADWIFE’SSECRETwas inspired by influencers who advocate for traditional gender roles in marriage. When she isn’t scrolling Instagram or TikTok, you can find her reading, walking her dog, or attempting to bake cookies from scratch. She has travelled extensively and now lives in London.
The Tradwife’s Secret
Liane Child
• Shorthand for “traditional wife”, the “tradwife” trend has been driven by social media and exploded into a global trend due to recent viral articles in TheTimesandTheNewYorkeras well as numerous podcasts and TV news shows.
• Influencers like Hannah Neeleman AKA Ballerina Farm (TikTok: 9.6m, Insta: 9.9m) and Nara Smith (TikTok: 9.1m, Insta: 4m) have sparked debate for their romanticisation of traditional gender roles and unattainable lifestyles.
• This is gripping psychological thriller that goes behind the cameras to explore why we’re so fascinated with Tradwives, and if they’re as perfect as they seem.
A marriage is between two people.
And their millions of followers.
Madison March's life is perfect. And she'll do anything to keep it that way.
Madison March is the perfect wife, with the perfect family and the perfect life.
She spends her days baking cookies and picking vegetables from the garden while watching her children play in the fields surrounding her Montana homestead.
Dinner is always on the table for her husband and they end their days sitting on the porch, watching the sun go down.
It’s a life anyone would dream of.
And it’s all a lie.
978-1-84845-923-6
22 May 2025
£ 9.99
A Secret Escape
Sarah Morgan
• The number oneSundayTimesbestselling Sarah Morgan returns with a big, emotional novel about friendship and overcoming past mistakes, with a gorgeous romance thrown in too. With its beautiful Lake District setting, it’s perfect summer reading.
• Sarah Morgan has been aSundayTimes Top Ten bestseller ten times. She hit the #1 spot in 2023 with TheChristmasBookClub.
• For fans of Ruth Jones, Marian Keyes and Sophie Kinsella.
• Read yourself happy with Sarah Morgan.
☀ Escape for summer with this uplifting and gorgeous feel-good novel full of friendship, forgiveness and love, from the Number One Sunday Times bestselling author! ☀
Subject
Readership
Sarah Morgan is the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of multiple bestsellers, including The Christmas Book Club, One More for Christmas, A Wedding in December, Beach House Summer and The Summer Seekers. She has sold over twentyone million books worldwide.
Sarah lives near London, England with her family and when she isn't writing or reading, she likes to spend time outdoors hiking or riding her mountain bike.
Join Sarah's mailing list at sarahmorgan.com for all book news. For more insight into her writing life follow her on Facebook at facebook/AuthorSarahMorgan and on Instagram at @sarahmorganwrites. Contact Sarah at sarah@sarahmorgan.com
A lifelong friendship
Childhood friends Milly and Nicole had always been more like sisters so Milly never understood why, two years ago, Nicole dropped out of contact completely. Milly buried that hurt and moved on with her life.
A call for help
Now, suddenly, Nicole is begging for Milly’s help. She needs somewhere private to hide, and the only safe place she can think of is Milly's holiday home business in the Lake District. Milly knows she should tell Nicole no, but she can’t ignore the desperation in her old friend’s voice so, despite her misgivings, she agrees to let Nicole stay.
A summer to reconnect
The two women begin to reconnect over the summer, and there’s a potential new romance for Milly too. But then the biggest bombshell of all lands and their delicate friendship is put to the ultimate test
Can the friends come together in this time of need, or will this summer break their bond forever?
Praise for Sarah Morgan:
‘'A perfect slice of joyful summer escapism from Sarah Morgan, the master of the genre' Clare Pooley
‘The perfect summer escape!’ Cathy Bramley
‘A truly heart-warming read’ Woman&Home
‘A glorious summer escape!’ MyWeekly
‘An absolute delight from start to finish … The imagination, tranquility, and wholesomeness that radiated from its pages were such a joy to read' TheBookseller
978-0-00-865173-2
352pp
22 May 2025
£ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership
Hannah Doyle is a journalist and author who writes deliciously relatable books about love and friendship. Sponsored by coffee, she spends her days writing and running around after her twin sons in Sheffield, where she lives with her husband. Previously, Hannah worked for a celebrity magazine in London and has appeared on television and radio chatting about the hot showbiz topics of the day.
The Spa Break
Hannah Doyle
A laugh out loud romcom in 2025 perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Sophie Kinsella
A week-long spa break is just what Jess needs. She’s going to be there with her best friends, Stella and Em. And the spa is so high-end it has an ethos about cleansing the mind and soul.
The laughter, gourmet food and cocktails are what every twenty-something needs. And then there’s the beautiful man she spots in the pool on the first day. A perfect addition to her week.
Until Jess finds out that he’s someone from her past. Someone she really should have recognized. Someone she should not find attractive. And that’s when things start getting a little confusing…
Readers LOVE Hannah Doyle:
'Never rated something 5 stars so fast in my life! This books has EVERYTHING I love in a romcom' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Loved this fun and funny romcom with two single parents doing a fake dating scenario and catching real feelings!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Why have I never heard of Hannah Doyle before? You best believe I will be ordering every other book she has published' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The moment I picked the book up I was immersed, a book I intended to read for 20 mins before bed turned into a 3 hours session' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I love fake dating stories and this one nailed it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-875144-9
3 Jun 2025
£ 16.99
In the Family Way
Laney Katz Becker
• Issues-led feminist book club fiction in the vein ofLessonsinChemistry – as women’s reproductive rights and right to safeguarding from violence are called into question (and even stripped back) across the globe, the dilemmas of these characters are more pertinent than ever.
A book club novel in the vein of Lessons in Chemistry about the friendship between a group of suburban housewives and a teenage unwed mother as they navigate their pregnancies – both wanted and unwanted – in a time when abortion is illegal and before the women's movement has taken flight.
1965, Ohio.
At Raven House, teenage girls who have found themselves in the family way are partnered with suburban families to hide out and help out until their due date. Once their babies are given up for adoption, they agree to never speak to their host families again.
Subject
In the Family Way is a powerful novel that grapples with perennial questions of womanhood –the role we play as wives, mothers, and people in our own right – in a time before feminism took flight. 320pp Royal 234x153, Hardback
Laney Katz Becker is an award-winning author and writer. Her debut novel, Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend was a Literary Guild alternate selection, recommended by Library Journal, selected by Redbook Magazine as Editors’ Favorite Pick for Fall, a Traditions Book Club selection and featured on CBS’ Saturday Early Show. Laney is also the author of the non-fiction anthology, Three Times Chai, a collection of rabbis’ favorite stories. Her writing career also includes working as an award-winning advertising copywriter, freelance journalist and, most recently, for more than a decade, as a literary agent. When she’s not writing, Laney enjoys drawing, sewing, reading, playing tennis, long walks (while listening to podcasts or audio books) and playing canasta. Laney is a graduate of Northwestern University, raised her two kids in Westchester County, NY, and currently lives on the east coast of Florida with her husband and their Havanese.
Fifteen-year-old Betsy Ann Eubanks had no idea that what she was doing could lead to a baby. Thankfully Mrs Berg – a perfect housewife and loving mother to a seventeen-month-old with another on the way – is happy to welcome her into her family and teach her about her body and how a woman is supposed to behave.
But the life of Lily Berg and her friends isn’t the idyll Betsy imagines. There’s Lily’s best friend, pregnant with a fourth child she desperately can’t afford; her neighbour who wants a baby more than anything but can’t seem to make them stick; and her sister, Rose, who is going to discover that her perfect husband is anything but.
'Bursts with the complexity, drama, and warmth of Call the Midwife, but set at the canasta and kitchen tables of 1960s suburban America. This timely, timeless novel captures not only the reproductive horrors of that era but also political awakening and a kind of nostalgic hope' Catherine Newman, NewYorkTimesbestselling author of Sandwich
'Chock full of eye-opening reminders of how far women have come since the days when subversive texts like The Feminine Mystique were passed around like contraband. Set in the 1960s, the novel features a delightful cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with, and the book’s themes of female autonomy and reproductive freedom are just as potent today, if not more so' Fiona Davis, NewYorkTimesbestselling author of TheStolenQueen
978-0-00-873502-9
5 Jun 2025
Subject
Linwood Barclay is an international bestselling crime and thriller author with over twenty critically acclaimed novels to his name, including the phenomenal number one bestseller No Time For Goodbye. Every Linwood Barclay book is a masterclass in characterisation, plot and the killer twist, and with sales of over seven million copies globally, his books have been sold in more than 39 countries around the world and he can count Stephen King, Shari Lapena and Peter James among his many fans.
Many of his books have been optioned for film and TV, and Linwood wrote the screenplay for the film based on his bestselling novel Never Saw It Coming. Born in the US, his parents moved to Canada just as he was turning four, and he’s lived there ever since. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children. Visit Linwood Barclay at www.linwoodbarclay.com or find him on Twitter at @linwood_barclay.
Linwood Barclay
• A one-off horror novel from the international bestseller Linwood Barclay.
• Horror is having a resurgence in fiction, and this has all the hallmarks of a classic novel of the genre –brilliant storytelling, thrilling supernatural elements, terrific pace and genuine scary scenes.
• Stephen King has read and said: ‘A really good novel of supernatural suspense. [Linwood Barclay] is a talented son of a gun. Born storyteller.'
'Terrific' STEPHEN KING
Evil has a one track mind…
Celebrated children’s author and illustrator Annie Blunt has had a dreadful year. Her husband was killed in a tragic accident, then one of her children’s books ignited a major scandal. Desperate for a fresh start, she moves with her young son Charlie to a charming small town in upstate New York where they can begin to heal.
But Annie’s year is about to get worse.
Bored and lonely in their isolated new surroundings, Charlie is thrilled when he finds a forgotten train set in a locked shed in the grounds of their new house. While Annie is pleased to see Charlie happy, there’s something unsettling about his new toy. Strange sounds wake Annie in the night – she’s sure she can hear a train in the middle of the night, although there isn’t an active line for miles. And then bizarre things start happening in the neighbourhood. But even stranger, Annie can’t seem to stop drawing a disturbing new character that has no place in a children’s book…
Grief plays tricks on the mind, but Annie is beginning to think she’s walked out of one nightmare straight into another, only this one is far more terrifying…
Sunday Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay enters new territory with a fiendishly twisted supernatural chiller.
PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY:
‘Linwood Barclay has crafted another perfect page-turner’ The Times
‘Pacy and tense, it’s a triumph from a master thriller writer. Every page makes your heart beat that little bit faster’ The Sun
‘You’ll be left speed-reading towards the end to discover answers expertly posed by the bestselling Toronto-based crime writer’ The Independent
‘Totally absorbing… brilliant stuff’ Neil Lancaster
‘A superior thriller’ Sunday Times
‘A suspense master’ Stephen King
PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY:
‘Devilishly good’ Shari Lapena
‘The novel speeds from first page to last… Bravo!’ Jeffery Deaver
‘A fast-moving, high-concept thriller from the talented Barclay’ Daily Mail
‘Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own’ T.M. Logan
‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world at the very top of his game’ Mark Billingham
978-0-00-865677-5 5 Jun 2025 336pp £ 9.99 B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership
LANA KORTCHIK grew up in Ukraine and Siberia, and at the age of sixteen, moved to Australia with her mother. Lana and her family live on the Central Coast of NSW, where it never snows and is always summerwarm, even in winter. She loves books, martial arts, the ocean and Napoleonic history. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies. She is the author of the USA Today bestselling Sisters of War.
Angels of War
Lana Kortchik
The Philippines, 1941. Rose Williams arrives in Manila on her first assignment as a US Army Nurse, enthralled by the new environment and its promise of adventure. Although worlds away from the land she grew up in, Rose feels connected to her father, who worked in the Philippines before he
War seems like a distant threat as Rose takes midnight dips in a warm sea with the other nurses, explores secret corners of the island, and strikes up a romance with a locally stationed US Army soldier.
But after Japan attacks Pearl Harbour, the nurses’ lives change. Rose faces constant threat, not only to her life, but from those around her she thought she could trust… What will Rose discover about herself in the turmoil of war?
Readers love Lana Kortchik:
‘Absolutely wonderful! I recommend all Lana’s books, but I believe this one is my favourite and her best yet! TEN STARS!’
‘This book packs a powerful punch… [it] makes your heart soar with every flight, pound in every battle, and break with every loss.’
‘A story I won’t be forgetting any time soon… I highly recommend this book.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautiful novel. Loved the way it is written. The characters and the era are well portrayed, wrapped in the history of WWII.’
‘Lana Kortchik has a great writing style and the historical elements were everything that I was hoping for.’
Praise for Lana Kortchik:
‘A powerful and hard-hitting novel, it tackles the themes of loyalty and compassion, and emphasizes the hard choices that need to be made in wartime.’ Deborah Swift
'The author, Lana Kortchik, has done her homework, and it shows. Her writing style is crisp and vivid, and she gives us dialogue that jumps off the page.’ Harry Fox
‘Pulls you in to the bleakness of war, the longing for peace, and the exhilaration of profound, unconditional love.’ Marie Silk
'Miss Kortchik takes the reader on a whirlwind journey, full of emotions, loss, love, and faith in this well-researched novel.’ Heather Osborne
‘I didn't want this story to end. It's one of those books you hold close to your heart and don't want to let go. By the time I got to the last page I felt I knew these wonderful characters well. Such woe was there in this story, but such love, it will melt you.’ Sharon Laker
'I cried, smiled, gasped, and laughed while reading this book. It will stay with me long after I've finished it' J.L. Leslie
978-0-00-872560-0
Someone in the Water Sarah Clarke
• Sarah’s books have received rave endorsements from Catherine Cooper, Adele Parks, Sophie Hannah, Louise Jensen and Nikki Smith, among many others.
A gripping new destination thriller, perfect for fans of Lucy Clarke, TM Logan and Catherine Cooper.
For the same two weeks every year, Frankie leaves her daughter Lola to go on a yoga retreat. But the truth is, there is no retreat. Just a remote cottage and enough pills to deceive her natural body clock into staying awake whenever it’s dark outside.
As long as she stays awake, the nightmare won’t come. But it always does. A nightmare that began decades earlier when she spent the summer working in Corsica, and was witness to something terrible.
Frankie has no idea that Lola has plans of her own this summer. She’s going to Corsica, and the truth from all those years ago is about to come out.
Subject
SARAH CLARKE is a writer living in South West London with her husband, children and stubbornly cheerful cockapoo. Over fifteen years, Sarah has built a successful career as a marketing copywriter. When her youngest child started secondary school, she joined the Faber Academy Writing A Novel course to learn the craft of writing psychological thrillers. Sarah graduated in 2019 and joined HQ Digital two years later.
978-0-00-873718-4
Subject
Readership General
HELEN PHIFER lives in a small town called Barrow-in-Furness with her husband and five children. She has lived in the same town since she was born. She has always loved writing and reading and loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Unable to find enough scary stories to read, she decided to write her own. You can contact or follow Helen on her blog at helenphiferblog.wordpress.com, her website at www.helenphifer.com and on Twitter, @helenphifer1.
The Annie Graham crime series (5)
Girls In The Woods
Helen Phifer
• Perfect for fans of Helen H Durrant, Angela Marsons and Jane Holland
• The first Annie Graham title, ‘TheGhostHouse’, is an international bestselling digital phenomenon.
• Author Helen Phifer works with the police, giving visceral authenticity to her writing. Backlist
The Ghost House
The Secrets of the Shadows
The Forgotten Cottage
The Lake House
The edge-of-your-seat fifth book in the AnnieGraham crime thriller series
Don’t go into the woods. Because you’re in for a big surprise…
Annie Ashworth is currently off duty. With her baby bump growing fast, she is under strict instructions to stay away from police work and look after herself, especially as she has a history of leading danger right to her door. So when her police officer husband, Will, is called to the discovery of a skeleton buried out in the local woods, Annie tries to keep out of the investigation. But as another body is discovered and her own niece suddenly goes missing, staying away just isn’t an option.
As Annie is soon to discover, a picture really does tell a thousand stories. But which one leads to a killer?
The thrilling fifth book in the Annie Graham series
Look out for more from the series:
• The Ghost House
• Secrets of the Shadows
• The Forgotten Cottage
• The Lake House
• The Girls in the Woods
• The Face Behind the Mask
Readers love the AnnieGrahamseries!
'This is a fantastic story… An excellent combo of "who-dunnit", tragic timelines and haunted houses' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book had me reading into the early hours of the morning, I just loved it… I was there with Annie and felt the hairs stand up on a few occasions. Great start to a new series' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
'This book is raved about by all who read it and rightly so… It is a startling good read which grips you from the first few pages… I COULD NOT put this book down!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'There were times I totally lost myself in the plot… I even found myself sat up at 4am racing through the last couple of chapters as I wanted to know what happened. I loved it' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
978-0-00-864436-9 17 Jun 2025 400pp £ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership
Ashley Poston is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip. A native of South Carolina, she lives in a small grey house with too many books. You can find her on the internet, somewhere, watching cat videos and reading fan fiction.
Sounds Like Love
Ashley Poston
• Cute, funny and magical high-concept rom-rom from the bestselling author of The DeadRomantics,TheSevenYearSlip, and ANovelLoveStory
• Ashley’s previous romances have all been NewYorkTimesbestsellers.
• Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Christina Lauren and Erin Sterling
• TheDeadRomantics,TheSevenYearSlipand ANovelLoveStorywere all selected for much-coveted special editions with FairyLoot.
The brand new magical rom-com from Ashley Poston, bestselling author of A Novel Love Story!��
A songwriter with writer’s block and a struggling musician discover the only way to shake off their sudden, inexplicable telepathic connection is to finish the song that has been evading them both …
Jolene Byrd is a hitmaker—the song writer who comes up with melodies that fill your heart and get stuck in your head. She should be on top of the world, but she’s burning herself out—fast and she’s not sure she has another song to give.
When she goes home for a slap-dash wedding between her brother and her best friend, her parents break the news that in the wake of her mom being unwell, they've decided to close The Revelry, her family’s music venue where she grew up. She can’t possibly concentrate on writing when her life is falling apart.
But then a melody comes to her—half-formed and lyric-less—and when she chases after it, she realizes it’s not just a song stuck in her head… but a voice, too.
The voice belongs to a frustrated, wry musician—Sasha—who insists he’s on the brink of a comeback if only he can write a hit song. The only thing Jolene and Sasha can agree on is that they’ll do anything to get out of the other’s head. Including collaborate on a song—the one to get her out of her writer’s block and him his new hit.
As they weave perfect notes together and chart the course of the chorus, the melody takes shape into a something that will change both of their lives forever—if it doesn’t end in heartbreak first.
Praise for Ashley Poston:
'A romance lover's dream of a book. Whimsical, romantic and packed with charm, Ashley Poston is the queen of high concept love stories' Sophie Cousens
'Ashley Poston has done it again. I fell into these pages just as effortlessly as Eileen tumbles into Eloraton. Whimsical, emotional, and tender, A Novel Love Story is another enchanting romance from Poston' B.K. Borison
‘I LOVED this book. A beautiful, poignant story, full of beautiful, poignant characters … at once touching, funny, breathtaking, hopeful, and dreamy’ Ali Hazelwood
‘The Dead Romantics was an absolute and unexpected delight. Voicy and quirky and fun; the pages will probably sparkle (but with black glitter)’ Christina Lauren
'Smart, quick, and absolutely bubbling over with love for the genre of romance itself’ Emma Straub
‘The Seven Year Slip is a gorgeous love story from one of the finest romance writers out there. I laughed, I cried, I didn’t want it to end. Consider me Ashley Poston’s greatest admirer!’ Carley
Fortune
978-0-00-857002-6
19 Jun 2025
£ 16.99
What Happens in the Dark
Kia Abdullah
• An edge-of-your-seat thriller and courtroom drama, exploring victim-blaming and what women will do when they’re pushed too far, from the author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month pick THOSEPEOPLENEXTDOOR
• A brilliant novel combining the best of the domestic thriller and courtroom drama genres –for fans of Harriet Tyce, Lisa Jewell, Jack Jordan and Gillian McAllister.
• THOSEPEOPLENEXTDOORwas Waterstones Thriller of the Month in Aug 2023, it was #1 Bookseller Heatseeker, It was also longlisted for the Adult Fiction Diverse Book Award in 2024.
• NEXTOFKINwon the Adult Fiction Diverse Book Award in 2022 and was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award
Don’t miss the brand-new gripping thriller and courtroom drama full of twists and turns that will keep you up at night!
Subject
Kia Abdullah is a bestselling author and travel writer. Her novels include Take It Back, a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year; Truth Be Told, which was shortlisted for the Diverse Book Awards; and Next of Kin, which won the Adult Fiction Diverse Book Award, and was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Those People Next Door was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month pick, and Kia has also been selected for The Times Crime Club.
Kia has written for The New York Times, the Guardian, the Financial Times, The Times and the BBC, and is the founder of Asian Booklist, a non-profit that advocates for diversity in publishing and helps readers discover new books by British Asian authors.
For more information about Kia and her writing, visit her website at kiaabdullah.com, or follow her at @KiaAbdullah on Instagram and X.
‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell
‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin
‘Intelligent, clever, poignant, sharp, and thought-provoking’ Andrea Mara
Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.
When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.
And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.
Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.
But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover …
Praise for Kia Abdullah
'Abdullah draws out the truth with compassion, charting with notable understanding the ever-changing currents in human relations’ The Times
‘Timely and powerful, Abdullah’s fourth novel lets no one off the hook’ Guardian ‘Gripping’ Woman’s Weekly
‘I was utterly addicted to Those People Next Door. It’s a stunning, thought-provoking and morally challenging read … It was so vivid and will make readers question their own values and viewpoints all in the context of a world-class story’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good
‘An enthralling, heartbreaking and thrilling courtroom drama that had me shouting out loud and gripped until the last page’ Nadine Matheson
‘If Jane Austen were alive, she would not be writing about zombies but the sorts of novels that Kia Abdullah does. They perch on society’s fault lines, observing how the codes of class and race determine actions, how good intentions can be a weakness, how a word or a gesture can lead inexorably to catastrophe … Admire the sureness with which [Abdullah] paints the bigger picture’ The Times(Thriller of the Month)
978-1-84845-932-8 3 Jun 2025 384pp £ 9.99
Subject
Kimberly Belle worked in marketing and nonprofit fundraising before turning to writing fiction. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Kimberly lived for over a decade in the Netherlands and currently divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam. She is the bestselling author of over eight novels, including The Marriage Lie, Dear Wife, The Personal Assistant, and The Paris Widow
The Expat Affair
Kimberly Belle
• Kimberly Belle is known for smart commercial thrillers including THE MARRIAGE LIE and DEAR WIFE. She is adored in the thriller community and is a founder of the Killer Author Club. She cohosts their bimonthly live show and recently published an Amazon original, Young Rich Widows, alongside authors Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan, and Vanessa Lillie.
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Marriage Lie comes a brand new gripping domestic crime thriller from Kimberly Belle, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Shari Lapena
Rayna Dumont is getting a fresh start in Amsterdam. Following a nasty divorce, she takes a jet-setting new job and embraces the single life. All seems to be going well until she wakes up in the bed of Xander van der Vos, her one-night stand from the night before, only to find him brutally murdered in the room next door. To make matters worse, millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds are missing from his safe. Quickly, Rayna becomes the prime suspect and is thrown into a deadly game of cat and mouse with forces beyond her wildest imagination.
From her lavish home in the heart of the city, Willow Prins is enraptured by the case. The wife of Thomas Prins, CEO of the House of Prins and Xander’s former boss, Willow is too familiar with what it’s like to be the outsider in the elite world of luxury goods. But as the House comes under scrutiny, tensions rise in her already strained marriage and Willow starts to wonder if Rayna might be the solution she’s been looking for.
As both women dive into the dark underbelly of the diamond industry, their hope for survival hinges on navigating a web of power and revenge. And as Rayna fights to clear her name, will she unravel the truth or find herself another victim?
Readers LOVE Kimberly Belle!
'When a book catches your attention from page 1, you know it's going to be great. It was compelling to read until the very last page. A thriller unlike anything else' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'An absolute page-turner! Keeps you hooked' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'My favourite of hers yet! You won’t be able to put this one down as you zoom through Europe with them and follow the cat-and-mouse game of who the good folks are are who the bad are… Highly recommend!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'An irresistible, fast-paced read set in some of Europe’s most inviting locales… An intense story that leads the reader through mystery and danger' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The search for answers kept me enthralled. The ending was perfect' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A smart mystery that takes readers on a wild ride. Fans of domestic suspense will adore Kimberly Belle’ Mary Kubica, bestselling author of TheGoodGirl
‘A good, old-fashioned page-turner, with a poisonous sting in the tail'DailyMail
‘With a fast, pacy plot, intriguing characters and twists and turns popping off the page when you least expect them… an utterly compelling read’ Lisa Hall, bestselling author of BetweenYouand Me
978-0-00-860844-6
320pp B 198x129, Paperback
2 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
The Ski Trip
Sarah Clarke
Subject
Readership General
SARAH CLARKE is a writer living in South West London with her husband, children, and stubbornly cheerful cockapoo. Over fifteen years, Sarah has built a successful career as a marketing copywriter. When her youngest child started secondary school, she joined the Faber Academy Writing A Novel course to learn the craft of writing psychological thrillers. Sarah graduated in 2019 and joined HQ Digital two years later.
’You
won’t know who to trust’ Adele Parks, Platinum
’A fast-paced tale of revenge.’ Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet ‘Suspenseful, claustrophobic.’ Katy Brent, How to Kill Men and Get Away With It
'A tense and twisty thriller.' Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party
THE PERFECT TRIP
When four friends embark on a boys’ skiing holiday in the Alps, they anticipate a weekend of fun, drinking, and some healthy competition on the slopes. But their trip is cut short when one of them falls to his death.
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT…
Tom’s widow, Zoe travels to France with her friend, Ivy to collect his body. While Zoe is consumed by grief, Ivy starts to question everything.
OR
COLD-BLOODED MURDER?
The slope Tom fell from wasn’t dangerous, and tensions between the group were at breaking point in the days before his death.
But if Ivy’s suspicions are correct, Tom was killed by one of his closest friends. And they are still in the chalet…
**********************************************
Readers LOVE The Ski Trip
'A thrilling novel full of tension and suspense.' NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Chilling, almost claustrophobic…' NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐
'An absolute masterpiece of mystery and suspense.' NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐
'Anger, jealousy, guilty, betrayal, lies, secrets… and more secrets!' NetGalley reviewer⭐
Praise for The Ski Trip:
‘A clever, slick and chilling read. Clarke is at the top of her game!’ A.A. Chaudhuri
REISSUE
'A lightening-paced thriller about revenge and keeping your enemies close.' Woman's Own ‘Twistier than a difficult ski run… The pages turn themselves!’ Louise Mumford
'An explosive revenge thriller packed with enough twists and turns to leave you breathless – I love it!' Mira Shah
'Fast paced, exciting and full of twists.' Jacqueline Sutherland
'A pacy, chilling, claustrophobic thriller… all set against the beautiful backdrop of the French Alps. I devoured it!' Diane Jeffrey
’With its brilliantly atmospheric setting and cast of duplicitous characters,TheSkiTrip keeps you in its icy grip until the very last page.’ Sarah J Naughton
Praise for Sarah Clarke:
‘An incredibly tense psychological thriller that grips you from the very first page. The suspense is utterly breathtaking.’ Victoria Dowd
978-0-00-855574-0
16 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Linwood Barclay is an international bestselling crime and thriller author with over twenty critically acclaimed novels to his name, including the phenomenal number one bestseller No Time For Goodbye. Every Linwood Barclay book is a masterclass in characterisation, plot and the killer twist, and with sales of over seven million copies globally, his books have been sold in more than 39 countries around the world and he can count Stephen King, Shari Lapena and Peter James among his many fans.
Many of his books have been optioned for film and TV, and Linwood wrote the screenplay for the film based on his bestselling novel Never Saw It Coming. Born in the US, his parents moved to Canada just as he was turning four, and he’s lived there ever since. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Neetha. They have two grown children. Visit Linwood Barclay at www.linwoodbarclay.com or find him on Twitter at @linwood barclay.
I Will Ruin You
Linwood Barclay
• A fiercely gripping page-turner about an unlikely hero who faces dreadful consequences
‘A page-turner… you’ll get your money’s worth out of this one’ Stephen King
'Linwood Barclay is a flat-out master of the modern thriller, and I Will Ruin You is impossible to put down. You need this book in your life.' David Koepp
WHEN IT'S LIFE OR DEATH, WHO CAN YOU TRUST?
Teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to his quick thinking, Richard averts a major tragedy and is hailed a hero.
But Richard's brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. Events rapidly spiral out of control, drawing Richard into a tangled web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets.
As he tries to uncover the truth, Richard discovers that there's something dangerously wrong in the town. Everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.
International bestseller Linwood Barclay returns with a breathtaking new thriller.
PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY:
‘Linwood Barclay has crafted another perfect page-turner’ The Times
‘Pacey and tense, it’s a triumph from a master thriller writer. Every page makes your heart beat that little bit faster’ The Sun
‘You’ll be left speed-reading towards the end to discover answers expertly posed by the bestselling Toronto-based crime writer’ The Independent
‘Totally absorbing… brilliant stuff’ Neil Lancaster
‘A superior thriller’ Sunday Times
‘A suspense master’ Stephen King
PRAISE FOR LINWOOD BARCLAY:
‘Devilishly good’ Shari Lapena
‘The novel speeds from first page to last… Bravo!’ Jeffery Deaver
‘A fast-moving, high-concept thriller from the talented Barclay’ Daily Mail
‘Linwood Barclay is in a class of his own’ T.M. Logan
‘One of the finest thriller writers in the world at the very top of his game’ Mark Billingham
978-0-00-822460-8
16 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership General
Jill Santopolo is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Light We Lost, which was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. Her work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages and has appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Apple, Amazon, and Indiebound bestseller lists. She received a BA from Columbia University and an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is also the author of three successful children's and young-adult series and works as the publisher of Philomel Books. Santopolo travels the world to speak about writing and storytelling. A New Yorker at heart, Santopolo is currently living in Washington, D.C. with her family.
The Light We Lost
Jill Santopolo
• Me Before You meets One Day in this passionate debut novel, The Light We Lost, which details an epic love story and the heartrending choice that one woman must make…
• Jill Santopolo (www.jillsantopolo.com) was, herself, a student at Columbia University on September 11, 2001. Since then she has received an MFA in fiction writing and made a name for herself in the world of children’s and young adult literature.
The heart-wrenching follow-up, The Love We Found!
‘Santopolo is a true master of matters of the heart.’ Taylor Jenkins Reid
'This book kept me up at night … did not disappoint' Reese Witherspoon
***
EVERY LOVE STORY HAS A BEGINNING…
11th September 2001. Lucy and Gabe meet in New York on a day that will change their lives – and the world – forever. As the city burns behind them, they kiss for the very first time.
Over the next thirteen years they are torn apart, then brought back together, time and time again. It’s a journey of dreams, of desires, of jealousy, of forgiveness – and above all, love.
And as Lucy is faced with a devastating choice, she wonders whether their love is a matter of destiny or chance.
…WHAT IF THIS IS HOW THEIR STORY ENDS?
This devastatingly romantic novel about the enduring power of love, with its shocking, unforgettable ending, is perfect for fans of One Day and Talking at Night.
Readers can't stop thinking about The Light We Lost:
'One of the best books I have ever read … keep your tissues handy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Astonishingly good' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A love story of epic proportions' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Beautifully written, an emotional journey about first love' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'WOW! Just wow!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book kept me up at night, turning the pages to find out, and the ending did not disappoint.’ Reese Witherspoon
‘A stunning book, perfect and unputdownable.’ Jill Mansell
‘Emotional and heartbreaking.’ Sarah Morgan
‘An epic love story.’ Prima
‘A one-sitting kind of book. Fans of One Day by David Nicholls will love this.’ Stylist
‘Your new tearjerker has arrived: Fans of Me Before You and One Day will love/weep over this elegant novel.’ New York Post
978-0-00-854842-1
464pp
30 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Nadine Matheson was born and raised in Deptford and now practises as a criminal defence lawyer. She won the City University Crime Writing competition, and she has an MA in Creative Writing. The Jigsaw Man was her first crime novel and was loved by readers around the world. It was shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader and the Adult Diverse Book Awards in 2022 and it has been translated into fifteen languages. Nadine is also the host of the podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson. For more information about Nadine and her writing, visit her website at www. nadinematheson.com, sign up for her mailing list, or follow her on Twitter @nadinematheson, and on Instagram @queennads.
An Inspector Henley Thriller (3) The Kill List
Nadine Matheson
• The brand-new serial killer thriller from Nadine Matheson, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Chris Carter,M.J. Arlidge and M.W. Craven.
• A decades-old serial killer case stirs up past trauma for the Serial Crimes Unit as they hunt down the same killer in the present.
• Nadine is the natural successor to long-running series' authors such as Val McDermid and Ian Rankin. She is leading the new crime guard.
• THE JIGSAW MAN was one of the Top Five Bookseller Heatseekers of 2022, and was shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader and the Adult Diverse Book Awards.
• THE BINDING ROOM was a Bookseller Heatseeker for four consecutive weeks in 2023.
‘Gritty, compelling storytelling’ Daily Mail
‘Dark, tense, action-packed, and so, so clever … I couldn’t stop until the very last page. Outstanding’ Andrea Mara, number one SundayTimesbestselling author of NoOneSawaThing
‘Another absolute cracker. Gruesome and gritty' Liz Nugent, SundayTimesbestselling author of StrangeSallyDiamond
‘This is a series that just keeps on giving with thrills, danger, shocks and eeriness with a great cast of characters … Nadine is truly a Queen of thrillers’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Another exciting, tense, character driven and unpredictable thriller. This is such a good series I simply devoured it’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
* * *
He will come for them, one by one…
Five shocking murders
Twenty-five years ago, DCI Harry Rhimes arrested Andrew Streeter for the brutal murders of five young people. Streeter’s ‘kill list’ of victims was found in his home, and he was convicted of all five crim s. * e
A legacy under threat
Now, Streeter’s convictions are being overturned, as new evidence implies the original investigation was corrupt. No one is more shocked that DI Henley. Because this case is personal; Rhimes was her old boss, and he’s no longer alive to defend himself. But when the killings start up again, Henley must face the truth: Rhimes got it wrong twenty-five years ago.
A hunt for a killer
Henley and her team reopen the original murder cases, but they must put their personal feelings to one side. Because the real killer is still out there, and he’s working his way through a new kill list …
* * *
Praise for The Kill List
‘A chilling and gripping serial killer thriller … I raced through it’ Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl
‘The most invigoratingly grisly new crime writer on the block’ The Telegraph
978-0-00-829752-7
30 Jan 2025
Subject
Readership
Sairish Hussain is a Bradford-based author and lecturer in Creative Writing. Her debut novel, The Family Tree, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, the Portico Prize and the Diverse Book Awards. It was also longlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and winner of Calibre Audio’s ‘Hidden Gem’ Prize. Sairish was selected by Kei Miller as one of ten ‘unmissable writers working in the UK’ for the International Literature Showcase 2021. She was one of the finalists in the Women’s Prize & Good Housekeeping Futures Award, an initiative which celebrates the most promising emerging female authors today. Hidden Fires is her second novel.
Hidden Fires
Sairish Hussain
• Sairish Hussain has been selected as one of The Women’s Prize for Fiction Futures 10 finalists; one of the most promising emerging female writers of today
• HiddenFires is a powerful and emotional study of family, identity, grief and loss, set against the devastating backdrop of The Partition of India in 1947
• Sairish’s debut,TheFamilyTree, was critically acclaimed and nominated for many prizes, including being shortlisted for the Costa First Novel award, The Portico Prize and The Diverse Books Award
• Sairish Hussain has a Creative Writing PhD from Huddersfield University. She is an exceptional talent and has the potential to become the voice of her generation: she’s a Zadie Smith or a Monica Ali in the making.
How can you live in the present when you’re trying to bury the past?
‘A sweeping tale of resilience’ i News
'An ineffably touching novel by a talented young author' Saga Magazine
'A tale of how we can live together yet be so far apart, and of how bridges can be built' Women's Weekly
'Harrowing uplifting. . .A visceral exploration of family, identity and loss' Sunday Post
Ramadan, 2017. Yusuf wakes in the middle of the night to pray. His routine is always the same, but something tells him that tonight is different. Yellow flames blur Yusuf’s vision, and the laughter of a small child echoes in his ears. But this time, the red, smoke-filled skies aren’t just in his memory.
Miles away, Rubi is also awake. On the television, she watches reports of a devastating fire in London. She is already anxious when her parents send her to stay with her Grandpa Yusuf, whose conservative house rules are almost as unbearable as the loneliness she feels at home. Yusuf’s lifestyle does not gel with Rubi’s. But when she finds him scared and confused one night, it becomes clear that there’s more to her grandfather than Rubi ever considered.
As Yusuf grapples with the past, Rubi is determined to save him. But the memories that are recovered and spoken of for the first time in years are more painful than she could have imagined.
From the Costa Prize-shortlisted author of The Family Tree and Women's Prize x Good Housekeeping Futures Finalist, Hidden Fires is a powerful story of grief and loss, the power of family and the long arm of history.
Readers are loving Hidden Fires:
‘A heartbreaking, emotional rollercoaster of a read’
‘A must read book’ ⭐
‘An exquisite book exploring the secrets, vulnerabilities and tremendous bonds between three generations of family’
Praise for Sairish Hussain:
‘I sped through The Family Tree, because I was so invested in the characters and eager to know their fate. The book was much darker and more tragic than I had been expecting – and all the better for it. An engrossing and moving story.' Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures
‘A brilliant read. This book is everything it promises to be and more. I was totally engrossed and invested in Amjad, Saahil and Zahra’s lives. A masterclass in representation and brilliant writing.’ Zeba Talkhani, author of My Past is a Foreign Country
978-0-263-91755-0
30 Jan 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Fiction
Readership General
Sarah Painter writes contemporary fiction with a touch of magic. She lives in rural Scotland with her children, husband, and a grey tabby called Zelda Kitzgerald. She drinks too much tea, loves the work of Joss Whedon, and is the proud owner of a writing shed.
The Language of Spells
Sarah Painter
The perfect cosy witchy story to curl up with this Autumn ��
Gwen Harper left Pendleford thirteen years ago and hasn’t looked back. Until an inheritance throws her into the mystical world she thought she’d escaped. Confronted with her great-aunt’s legacy, Gwen must finally face up to her past.
The magic she has long tried to suppress is back with a vengeance but, gift or burden, for Gwen it always spells trouble. She has to stay – she has nowhere else to go – but how can she find her place in the town that drove her out after branding her a witch…?
Praise for Sarah Painter:
‘Sarah Painter is a talented new writer, and her debut is a charming, romantic and intriguing story, with a little touch of magic. It had me enchanted.’ - Clodagh Murphy
'This really was a fantastic debut novel… The language was also simple but elegant and meant that the story flowed seamlessly. I honestly could not put it down.' – Laura'sLittleBookBlog
'The plot had great twists and turns and when I thought I had the story figured out, the story would go in a different direction and surprise me. I didn’t want to put it down and the further I got into the book, the harder it was to stop reading… A wonderful debut novel and I’m looking forward to reading the next one.' – NovelKicks
'I really do love magical fiction and I think Sarah Painter is one of the best at giving you a realistic look at magic and all that comes with it.' – ChickLitReviews
Don’t miss any title in the Language of Spells series:
Prequel – The Garden of Magic
Book 1 – The Language of Spells
Book 2 – The Secrets of Ghosts
REISSUE
978-0-00-858636-2
27 Feb 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Adele Parks MBE was born in North Yorkshire. She is the author of 23 bestselling novels including the Sunday Times Number One bestsellers Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck. Over five million UK editions of her work have been sold and her books have been translated into 31 different languages. Adele’s novel The Image of You has just been released as a major motion movie and she has several other titles optioned and in development including One Last Secret and Both of You. She is an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency: two charities that promote literacy in the UK. Adele has lived in Botswana, Italy and London and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey. In 2022 she was awarded an MBE for services to literature.
First Wife’s Shadow
Adele Parks
• Another compelling and brilliant domestic thriller, this is Adele’s 24th book in 24 years
• Adele’s recent booksOneLastSecretandBothOfYouwereSundayTimes Top Five bestsellers and Number One bestsellers in audio
• BothOfYou was also Number Two in paperback and Number One in eBook
• JustMyLuck andLiesLiesLies were Number One bestsellers
• JustMyLuck andLiesLiesLies have just been optioned for development for TV
‘Devious and dizzying, with twist after twist after twist – I loved it’ Louise Candlish
HIS FIRST WIFE DIED. NOW THERE'S A VACANCY…
When Emma meets Matthew, a kind, handsome widower, he seems to be just what she needs.
Yet as their relationship moves fast, Emma’s friends worry Emma might be exploited. She’s a rich woman after all.
Emma doesn’t care Matthew has no money. But as the memory of his perfect first wife hangs over them, Emma does have one tiny doubt.
If Matthew’s wife hadn’t died, he wouldn’t be with her. And Emma wonders if she’s second best. Can she ever fill the dead woman’s shoes?
As jealousy and suspicion blossom between Emma and Matthew, events take a darker, dangerous turn.
Suddenly Emma doesn’t know who she can trust. Her friends? Her husband? Or even herself…?
This sensational new thriller from the Number One bestseller Adele Parks will have you gripped until the very last page.
Readers love First Wife's Shadow:
'The second half of the book was so gripping it was hard to stop reading. Twists after twist! I loved the ending. A must read!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'One of those thrillers where you think you know how it’s going to end then bam another twist. I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The tension racks up and the twists keep coming… the ending certainly wasn't what I was expecting!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Tense, creepy, twisty… this brilliant new psychological thriller from Adele Parks gets right under your skin from the start' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This was a rollercoaster of a thriller, thinking you kind of know the direction it was going before a swerve to another direction you haven’t even considered!… A fantastic book… set to be a thriller of the summer' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Adele Parks:
‘I’ll drop anything for a new Adele Parks: she nails it every time’ Lucy Foley
‘Utterly compelling’ Peter James
‘As always with Adele… this is an absolutely gripping read’ Richard Osman
‘Kept me guessing and had me gasping at the twist’ Ian Rankin
978-0-00-861391-4
400pp
B 198x129, Paperback
27 Feb 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Amy Engel is the author of THE FAMILIAR DARK, THE ROANOKE GIRLS, and THE BOOK OF IVY series. A former criminal defense attorney, she lives in Missouri with her family.
Backlist 2020 The Familiar Dark
The Roanoke Girls
I Did It For You
Amy Engel
• Gripping and atmospheric American crime from the author of TheRoanokeGirls
• TheRoanokeGirlswas a Richard & Judy pick and an ebook bestseller.
• Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Chris Whitaker and Jane Harper
• Amy Engel is a former criminal defense attorney, experience which brings rich authenticity to this examination of the impact or crime on a small community
• A thriller that combines quality writing and a gritty, emotionally charged thriller
From the bestselling author of The Roanoke Girls comes a riveting and poignant exploration of guilt, loss and devastation.
‘A blistering page-turner…deeply chilling and beautifully written’ Chris Whitaker
‘Fans of Gillian Flynn will love this’ Good Housekeeping
* * *
Everything changed the night Eliza Dunning died.
The residents of Ludlow turned on their neighbours, the Dunning family fractured, and Eliza’s sister Greer moved away, grieving and unconvinced by the police’s version of events.
Now, fourteen years later, there has been another murder. It’s time for Greer to go home.
But will she finally find the answers she has been searching for? Is it a copycat killer, or one that never went away?
‘Sleek writing, insight into the complexity of terrible crimes, and a plot that will keep you guessing’ Julia Heaberlin
‘A heart-breaking crime story’ Laure Van Rensburg
‘A riveting mystery’ Woman’s Own
More praise for Amy Engel:
‘Darkly sexy and compelling’ Heat
‘You’ll be gripped’ Richard Madeley
'This is fierce and brilliant' Observer
‘A must-have’ SundayExpress
‘A deeply chilling, beautifully written mystery. I Did It For You is a blistering page-turner, and a complex study of grief and the power of guilt. Amy Engel is a huge talent’ Chris Witaker
‘A heart-breaking crime story about the need to make sense of the senseless acts of violence that rip your life apart and how you can’t choose who you love. . .Amy Engel is the queen of the smalltime mystery’ Laurie Van Rensburg
978-0-00-858038-4 13 Mar 2025 368pp £ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership
Ellie Keel is an award-winning producer and campaigner based in London. She is the Founder Director of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, a literary prize and campaign for gender equality among writers for the stage in the UK and Ireland. In January 2024 she was the youngest producer ever to win Producer of the Year in The Stage Awards.
The Four
Ellie Keel
• A major debut from Ellie Keel who is an award-winning producer and campaigner.
• In the top 10 bestselling debuts of the year. No. 4 Heatseeker. No.3 in the Kindle chart.
• She is the Founder Director of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, a literary prize and campaign for gender equality among writers for the stage in the UK and Ireland. In 2024 she became the youngest producer ever to win Producer of the Year in The Stage Awards.
• Dark academia for fans of TheSecretHistory, TheCloistersand TheThingsWeDoToOur Friends
Dark academia perfect for fans of The Secret History and If We Were Villains. Four scholarship students’ dreams come true when they are accepted into an exclusive boarding school, but they will soon be bound by a dark secret that could save one of them, or destroy them all…
'A dark, compelling and beguiling novel of revenge, guilt and love – Ellie Keel is a dazzling new voice’ Kate Mosse
‘An intensely gripping, thrilling and darkly beautiful debut. I was hooked’ Karin Slaughter
‘Sharp, powerful, tragic and addictive’ Chris Whitaker
‘This isTheSecretHistory for millennials' Daisy Goodwin
We were always The Four. From our very first day at High Realms.
The four scholarship pupils. Outsiders in a world of power and privilege.
It would have made our lives a lot easier if Marta had simply pushed Genevieve out of our bedroom window that day. Certainly, it would have been tragic. She would have died instantly.
But Marta didn’t push her then, or – if you choose to believe me – at any other time. If she had, all of what we went through would not have happened.
I’ve told this story as clearly as I could – as rationally as I’ve been able, in the circumstances, to achieve. I don’t regret what we did. And I would do it all again.
��
Reader reviews:
'A shockingly powerful debut… raw and unflinching, not for the faint of heart' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Beautifully written and utterly brutal' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Complex and heart wrenching and oh so gripping' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Suspenseful… an engrossing read' The Sunday Times
‘One warning: clear your diary before you pick up this novel, as once you’ve read a handful of pages you will be hooked' I News
‘Haunting and tragic, a tale revealing the ugliness of adolescence – and humanity’ Cecelia Ahern
'A dark, stylish debut, it hooks you until the final denouement' Sunday Independent
978-0-00-833120-7
13 Mar 2025
£ 9.99
Aria’s Travelling Book Shop
Rebecca Raisin
• Bec writes books for book-lovers, featuring libraries, bookshops and book clubs heavily –but always with her trademark humour and warmth, and with a gorgeous romance to sweep us away
Don't miss this heartwarming rom-com from the Kindle bestselling author of Summer at the Santorini Bookshop!
☀ This summer will change everything!
Aria Summers knows what she wants.
A life on the road with best friend Rosie and her beloved camper-van-cum-book-shop, and definitely, definitely, no romance.
But when Aria finds herself falling – after one too many glasses of wine, from a karaoke stage – into the arms of Jonathan, a part of her comes back to life for the first time in years.
Subject
Readership General
REBECCA RAISIN writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.
Since her beloved husband died Aria has sworn off love, unless it’s the kind you can find in the pages of a book. One love of her life is quite enough.
And so Aria tries to forget Jonathan and sets off for a summer to remember in France. But could this trip change Aria’s life forever…?
A heartwarming, uplifting and hilarious novel of friendship, love and adventure! Perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh and Holly Martin.
Readers LOVE Aria’s Travelling Book Shop!
‘Oh wow, brilliant book… I didn't want it to end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG brilliant. Captured from page one!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Kept me reading past bedtime… More than just a feel-good read, it’s one that will stay with you for a long time’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I felt emotionally involved with this book from the start and became totally engrossed… Had me laughing in some places and in tears in others. A brilliant read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely loved this… I enjoyed every turn of the page… Such a lovely feel good book’ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
‘Delightful… So much more than a romance’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Swallowed me whole from the moment I started reading, and sucked me into another world’ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow. I loved this story… I shed a tear or two before the end… Fabulous’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Rebecca Raisin:
REISSUE
'A gorgeous sun-soaked romance … a must read for 2024' Katie Ginger, author of TheSecretsof MeadowFarmhouse
‘I enjoyed it so much!… This summer’s go-to for every book-worm.’ Jane Linfoot, author of TheLittle CornishKitchen
‘Rebecca’s books are always gorgeous.’ Jaimie Admans, author of TheBeekeeperatElderflower Grove
‘WONDERFUL! I could not put this book down!… A book to warm your heart and spirit you away to a brighter place. 5 big glittering gold stars! I love it!’ Colleen Coleman, author ofDon’tStopMeNow
978-0-00-862910-6
13 Mar 2025
B 198x129, Paperback
Subject
Readership
Emily Slapper grew up in Northampton before studying Cinema and Photography at the University of Leeds.
After graduating she moved to London to work in advertising whilst hoping to one day become a screenwriter. But wanting to write films turned into wanting to write books and so she started a Creative Writing MA at Royal Holloway. Everyone I Know is Dying is her debut novel.
In her spare time she loves walking around South East London with her dog, Tina.
Everyone I Know is Dying
Emily Slapper
• A razor-sharp debut novel from an exciting new voice in literary fiction.
• In the vein of Cleopatra and Frankenstein, Sorrow and Bliss and even The Bell Jar, Everyone I Know is Dying is an exploration of the pressures of womanhood, the often toxic nature of romantic relationships and of acute mental health crises – all through a Gen Z lens
'I hope the lights are on when we finally have sex so he can see how young I am compared to his wife.'
Joe Gibson, author of Seventeen 352pp
'Sharp and uncompromising… Everyone I Know is Dying is a book that demands to be read' Joe Gibson, author of Seventeen
'I read every page obsessively… sharp and witty and so delicately crafted' Elvin Mensah, author of Small Joys
***
When she’s having sex with her boss, Iris likes to have the lights on so he can see how much younger she is than his wife. She likes watching her colleagues eat unhealthy lunches at their desk while her stomach aches with emptiness. She likes coasting at work knowing she’s going to land a big promotion anyway.
So why when it arrives does she find herself sprawled on her hallway floor, crying uncontrollably? Why, instead of a sense of triumph, does a crippling depression threaten to overwhelm her? Why does the support and stability of her family and friends feel so suffocating? And why, torn between her flatmate George – good, kind, reliable George – and cold, indifferent Patrick, does she only seem capable of making choices that cause her pain?
A razor-sharp, bleakly funny exploration of mental health crises, the societal pressures on young women, and toxic sexual and romantic relationships from one of the most exciting new literary voices. Perfect for fans of Sorrow and Bliss or Cleopatra and Frankenstein
Readers are loving Everyone I Know is Dying:
'An important, electric portrayal of mental health' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Brutally relatable' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'One of the most powerful books I've ever read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Brilliantly written by an outstanding new literary talent' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Words struggle to express the enormity and the power it holds' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Raw, relentless, revelatory' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Everyone I Know Is Dying is a strikingly honest portrayal of mental health and young womanhood. Iris embodies the complexities of navigating life in your twenties while grappling with mental illness and toxic relationships.
Emily Slapper’s writing is sharp and uncompromising, delving deep into Iris's struggles with depression, disordered eating, and turbulent romances. While Iris may not always be likable, her flaws make her incredibly relatable, reflecting the messy reality of human existence.
What sets this book apart is its rawness. Slapper doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths, making the reader feel almost intrusive at times. Yet, this unflinching honesty is what makes the narrative so powerful and unforgettable.
Everyone I Know Is Dying is a book that demands to be read. Its portrayal of mental health is hauntingly authentic, resonating with readers long after they've turned the final page. With its clever and witty prose, its complicated yet relatable protagonist, Emily Slapper’s striking novel earns its place alongside The Bell Jar, Sorrow and Bliss, and Cleopatra and Frankenstein Everyone I Know Is Dying. introducesanexcitingnewliteraryvoice,onethatpromisestoleavealastingimpact.'
978-0-00-875760-1
384pp
13 Mar 2025
£ 9.99
B 198x129, Paperback
Rights
Subject
Readership
Portia MacIntosh has been ‘making stuff up’ for as long as she can remember – or so she says. Whether it was blaming her siblings for that broken vase when she was growing up, blagging her way backstage during her rock chick phase or, most recently, whatever justification she can fabricate to explain away those lunchtime cocktails, Portia just loves telling tales.
After years working as a music journalist, Portia decided it was time to use her powers for good and started writing novels instead.
Bestseller Portia writes hilarious romcoms, drawing on her real life experiences to show what it’s really like being a woman today –especially one who doesn’t quite have her life together yet.
Truth Or Date
Portia MacIntosh
‘A great, laugh-out loud, British contemporary romance novel…I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.’ – What’s Better Than Books
It's all fun and games, until someone falls in love…
Ruby Wood is perfectly happy playing the dating game – until she has a red-hot dream about her very attractive flatmate, Nick. He might spend every day saving lives as a junior doctor, but he’s absolutely the last man on earth that fun-loving Ruby would ever date!
The solution? Focus on all of Nick’s bad points. And if that fails, up her dating antics and find herself a man. So what if she manages to make disapproving, goody two-shoes Nick jealous in the process…
Only, after a series of nightmare first dates, there’s still just one man on Ruby’s mind. Maybe it’s time to admit the truth and dare to ask Nick to be her next date?
Don't miss this utterly uplifting and laugh-out-loud romcom from bestseller Portia MacIntosh, perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane!
Readers LOVE Truth or Date!
'A fab feel-good book – definitely worth a read, you won't be disappointed' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
'This is a great read for those ready for a little fun and romance, loved every page and it ended far too fast!' Reader review
'Absolutely loved this book, loads of twists and turns and some laugh out loud comedy thrown in. This book had me smiling like an idiot but it is a real good read!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A fabulous witty romcom with plenty of cringe, swoon and laugh out loud moments' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A light-hearted read which is flirty and fun and a guaranteed pick me up, I think everyone should read this.' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Hilarious and refreshingly brilliant all the way through…this is my heart-warming humorous book of 2016!’ – TheWritingGarnet
‘I just couldn't put it down!’ – SweetIsAlwaysInStyle
'A light-hearted and fun read…highly enjoyable.' – ByTheLetterBookReviews
‘A funny, light-hearted read ideal for reading on the beach.’ – Sal’sWorldofBooks
‘Truth or Date is a quirky, hilarious read packed full of fun and drama that is guaranteed to make you smile.’ – TheChickLitWhore
978-0-00-867986-6
27 Mar 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Lloyd Devereux Richards was born in New York City and travelled extensively in Europe, Africa and Central America before attending law school. He served as a senior law clerk for an Indiana Court of Appeals judge, researching and writing drafts for dozens of published opinions, including the appeal of a serial killer sentenced to death. A father of three, he lives with his wife, Cameron O’Connor, and their two dogs in Montpelier, Vermont. His novel, Stone Maidens was a TikTok viral success, which is to be followed up by another in the series,Maidens of the Cave The Runner is a stand alone novel.
Backlist
Stone Maidens Maidens of the Cave
2012 2023
The Runner
Lloyd Devereux Richards
This is a strong, carefully-constructed thriller with lots of gritty drama and different perspectives including from our hero, a nuclear physicist a crime boss and a strong FBI Agent heroine. For fans of Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelly, Patricia Cornwell, and Karin Slaughter.
A gripping thriller from Lloyd Devereux Richards author of TikTok sensation, Stone Maidens
He's in too deep… And almost out of time.
Martin Gabriel is a runner for Ben. He runs errands. He runs deliveries. And now he is running for his life…
When a deal goes wrong, Martin realizes Ben isn’t the legitimate businessman he thought he was.
He flees before Ben catches up with him, unaware that Ben’s criminal network and the FBI are also on his tail.
No longer a runner, but still on the run.
Is Martin fast enough to get away from his past?
Readers love LLOYD DEVEREUX RICHARDS
‘Well plotted, tense, fast paced.’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An absolutely marvellous contemporary crime suspense that had me glued and guessing from the start.’ NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This has escalating urgency, suspense that just keeps ratcheting up, and some really recognizable characters. Fantastic.' NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'What a great thriller!' NetGalley reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Lloyd Devereux Richards does it again. I can’t wait to read more.’ NetGalley reviewer
'A promising new voice in thriller fiction' M.K. Murphy⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-865430-6
27 Mar 2025
£ 9.99
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books
Kirsten Miller
•Set in a small Southern US town, LULADEAN’SLITTLELIBRARYOFBANNEDBOOKSis about the town’s effort to ban certain books and the uprising against this censorship. Full of timely and important themes, all wrapped up in terrific satirical and genuinely funny storytelling..
•A classic in the making and would sit alongside novels such as FAHRENHEIT451and BRAVE NEWWORLD, as an exploration of political influence on contemporary culture. Additionally, book-themed satire is very much in the public consciousness, thanks to novels like YELLOWFACEand DEATHOFABOOKSELLER, and the upcoming AMERICANFICTIONfilm.
•In the novel, the townspeople read the banned books in secret – and this causes an uprising against the fascist mayoral candidate. Some of the banned books in the fictional town include The Diary of Anne Frank, Beloved, Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret and Maus by Art Spiegelman.
Subject
Fiction
Readership General
Kirsten Miller grew up in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. At seventeen, she hit the road and moved to New York City, where she lives to this day. Kirsten's first adult novel, The Change, is a feel-good feminist revenge fantasy and was selected by The Guardian, Prima, and Woman & Home in their ‘Books of Year’ round ups. Lula’s Little Library of Banned Books is her second adult novel, and explores book banning and those brave enough to stand up against this censorship.
‘A story that’s as furious as it is tender’ EMILY HENRY on The Change
* * *
From the author of The Change, comes a novel about book banning and those brave enough to stand up against this censorship.
In Troy, Georgia, Lula Dean has decided to cleanse the town’s reading habits. All banned books have been removed from public spaces, and the townspeople are only allowed to read books Lula has deemed ‘appropriate’.
But a small group refuse to be told what they can and can’t read.
The revolution is coming …
Praise for Kirsten Miller:
‘Kirsten Miller has that rare ability to take a serious subject and make it very, very funny. I enjoyed this novel and you will too’ James Patterson
‘A roar of rage … I loved it’ Marian Keyes
‘I couldn’t put it down’ Erin Kelly
‘Bewitching and satisfying’ TheIndependent
Praise for Kirsten Miller and The Change:
‘A brilliant book. Thrilling, fast paced and original. I couldn’t stop reading’
978-0-00-873724-5
27 Mar 2025
£ 9.99
Subject
Readership
Jen Mouat was born in Edinburgh and fell in love with books at an early age. She soon began to write her own stories which she kept in a suitcase under the bed. She studied Illustration and Printmaking at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design before doing a Postgrad in Education and embarking upon a successful career as a primary school teacher. Idyllic childhood summers spent on holiday in Dumfries and Galloway inspired her love of the Solway Coast, the setting for her writing. She now lives near Edinburgh with her husband and their Border Collie. This is her first novel.
The Bookshop of New Beginnings
Jen Mouat
It’s never too late to rewrite your story…
Emily Cotton has always dreamed of owning a bookshop, but when her dreams finally become a reality, she realises she’s going to need some help. So after a couple of glasses of Merlot, she emails her childhood best friend, Kate Vincent.
Kate jumps at the chance to return to scenic Wigtown and to see Emily and the Cotton clan again. But after a six-year absence, the happy family she once thought of as her own has changed.
Kate has one summer to help save the bookshop and bring the fractured Cotton family back together. But with so much left unsaid between the two best friends, will they have to save their friendship first?
This charming and uplifting tale of friendship, family, and love will whisk you away to Scotland’s picturesque book town.
Previously published as Summer at Bluebell Bank
Readers
love The Bookshop of New Beginnings!
'I cannot recommend this book enough. I was absolutely hooked within the first couple of pages! I love the way the backstory is teased out little by little to give real depth and honesty to the characters. I found myself completely transported' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I absolutely loved it. The characters were real from the first page and I really cared about them all. Beautifully written and full of family drama' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A superb story with vivid descriptions of the location and the characters, who are so complex and believable. A roller coaster for your emotions as you are drawn into the antics of the family and their friends. I highly recommend this book' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Much more than just a summer read – it's a story which pulls you in immediately and keeps you hooked right to the very end, leaving you wanting to know what happens next!' Reader review ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
978-0-00-859947-8
24 Apr 2025
£ 9.99
Virginia Lane is Not a Hero
Rosalind Stopps
• A darkly comic and character-driven thriller with a surprising heroine, this is a chilling novel about protecting those who can’t protect themselves.
• For fans of STRANGESALLYDIAMONDby Liz Nugent, and perfect reading for anyone with a soft spot for misunderstood protagonists in fiction (Elinor Oliphant, Elizabeth Zott, Mollythe Maid).
• The new novel from the author of THESTRANGERSHEKNEW(shortlisted for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize) and ABEGINNER’SGUIDETOMURDER(longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award).
• Ideal book club fiction: It deals with loneliness in the elderly, giving a voice to the often ignored, as well as exploring dark themes of abuse in many forms.
Praise for Rosalind Stopps:
‘A tense page-turning thriller . . . powerful’ The Times
Subject
Readership General
Rosalind Stopps lives in Margate and southeast London with various humans and dogs. Her short stories have been published in five anthologies and read at live literature events in London, Leeds, Hong Kong and New York.
Her debut novel, The Stranger She Knew was shortlisted for the Paul Torday Memorial Prize, and her second novel A Beginner’s Guide to Murder was Longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award.
‘There are shades of Kate Atkinson in the way Rosalind balances dark themes with dry humour, a great plot, exquisitely realised characters, and more than a hint of feminist sensibility’ Jessica Moor, bestselling author of Keeper
‘Guaranteed to hook you . . . both touching and darkly funny’ Anna Bailey, SundayTimes bestselling author of Tall Bones
* * *
Ever since her beloved Jed died, all Virginia wants is to be left alone. But the little girl who lives down the street is so sweet, that even in her grief-fuelled state Virginia’s heart softens whenever she sees her.
And that’s why Virginia knows there’s something wrong in the little girl’s house. So when the mother asks Virginia to take her child far away, somewhere safe, Virginia says yes.
The last thing Virginia would call herself is a hero. She’s just doing what anyone else would do, right? But when she realises how much danger the child is in, she knows she needs to do everything she can to keep her safe . . . Because sometimes it’s the most ordinary people who do the most extraordinary things.
Praise for Rosalind Stopps:
‘A quirky, witty thriller that reminds us not to underestimate the older generation’ Best
‘Darkly comic and gripping’ Woman’s Own
‘[An] excellent character-driven tale . . . by turns amusing, sorrowful, and thrilling. Stopps is definitely a writer to watch’ Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
978-0-00-862617-4
8 May 2025
Subject
Crime
Readership General
Jo Piazza is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author. Her work has been published in ten languages and twelve countries, and many of her books are currently in development for film and television. Jo's podcasts have garnered more than twenty-five million downloads and regularly top podcast charts, and her work has appeared in Marie Claire, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, New York magazine, Glamour, Elle, Time, the Daily Beast, and Slate. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three feral children.
The Sicilian Inheritance
Jo Piazza
• From bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jo Piazza, comes a transportingnovel rooted in the author's own family history about a century-old unsolved murder, a disputed inheritance, and a family secret that some will kill to protect...
• It is loosely based on the murder of Jo’s great-great grandmother, Lorenza, in Sicily morethan 109 years ago
• With its feminist sensibilities and brilliant writing, THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE is a beautiful story about women and the challenges women have faced for centuries and will appeal to readers of Isabel Allende and Sarah Winman. Also perfect for fans of absorbing and deeply emotive novels such asTheIslandby Victoria Hislop andTheNightingale by Kristin Hannah.
Don’t miss this transporting novel full of family secrets, a disputed inheritance, and a century-old unsolved mystery …
‘A gritty and whip-smart read. Strong friendships, powerful women, mighty lives. I utterly devoured it, was swept to Sicily, loved the denouement’ Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House
‘As much a feminist adventure as a redemptive family mystery . . . I was gripped and entertained from start to finish’ Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push
‘Strong women, rich history and page-turning suspense make for a rich and satisfying read’ Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author
* * *
A century-old unsolved murder
A disputed inheritance
A family secret that some will kill to protect . . .
When Sara Marsala’s beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, she leaves Sara a valuable piece of land in Sicily, but there’s a catch: the locals refuse to acknowledge the rightful owner of the deed, and if Sara wants the land she must first uncover the truth about what happened to her great-grandmother, Serafina Marsala. Because Rosie didn’t think Serafina died of illness as family lore states . . . Rosie believed Serafina was murdered, and she wants Sara to prove it.
Sara’s investigations take her up and down the picturesque Italian countryside and, along the way, she learns more about Serafina, a headstrong young woman thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life for all the woman of her small village. Yet a woman who challenges the status quo is never safe, and as Sara discovers more about Serafina, she comes up against the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother.
And now they want to destroy Sara too.
* * *
Praise for The Sicilian Inheritance:
‘Equal parts rich historical fiction, gripping murder mystery, and a moving exploration of identity, grief, and the long shadow of the past’ Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here
978-0-00-860260-4
22 May 2025
Subject
Melanie Hamrick is a mother, a ballerina, a producer, a choreographer, and a writer. Born and raised in Virginia, Melanie began dancing at a young age. Her career as a ballerina spanned over sixteen years with American Ballet Theatre. While travelling the world with her family and for work, Melanie has always carried novels and notebooks with her. Melanie’s passion for reading and dance inspired her to write her first novel, First Position.
The Unraveling
Melanie Hamrick
• The sexual awakening of EL James, the gritty and tense plots of Colleen Hoover, the alpha males of Ana Huang and the glamour of Taylor Jenkins Reid.
• Melanie Hamrick’s debut was named TheTimesbook of the month June 2023
Torn between duty and desire . . . my fate is in his hands.
Jocelyn Banks has always felt like an outsider – having hustled for everything in her life since her childhood in rural Louisiana. But in ballet, Jocelyn has found the thing she craves most, control.
But when her estranged mother dies, Jocelyn’s world is instantly turned upside down. Her only way out – securing a donor for her position at London’s Royal National Ballet.
Jocelyn can’t afford to lose this, but something about her sponsor, the charismatic Alistair Cavendish sets a fire in her. What she feels when she’s with him is raw and real. Swept into a world of lust and luxury, the lure of sex and power keep clawing at her.
Can Jocelyn choose between desire and duty, or is she doomed to fall into an intoxicating spiral of self-sabotage?
Readers are INTOXICATED by Melanie Hamrick!
‘Melanie Hamrick’s debut novel treads similar obsessional ground to the film Black Swan in its steamy imaginings of backstage shenanigans at a ballet company’ The Times
‘It was dark, there were twists, it was hot!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Compelling… absolutely fascinating’ Daily Mail
‘Addictive like Black Swan. Perfect for those who love spicy, explicit, forbidden romance' ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
‘[An] erotic novel that pulses with Black Swan energy… combining the artistry of The Red Shoes with the eroticism of Fifty Shades of Grey’EntertainmentWeekly
‘Raw emotions, dirty reality of jealousy, pain and dance set in the harsh world of elite ballet’ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
Readers LOVE Melanie Hamrick!
‘[An] addictive novel perfect for those who love their story with forbidden and steamy elements for a romance book’
‘Addictive like Black Swan. Perfect for those who love spicy, explicit, forbidden romance.’
‘This is probably one of the best representations of ballet and the ballet world I have read in a fiction book.’
‘It was dark, there were twists, it was hot!’
‘Raw emotions, dirty reality of jealousy, pain and dance set in the harsh world of elite ballet.’
978-0-00-858702-4
5 Jun 2025
£ 9.99
I Love You, I Love You, I Love You
Laura Dockrill
• The stunning debut adult novel from the award-winning children’s, YA and non-fiction author and poet
• A coming-of-age will-they-won’t-they love story that will make you cry with laughter and joy, that follows two best friends who meet aged 15 over two decades into their 30s
• A beautiful romance bursting with feeling from a unique voice: the sweep and emotion of Normal People or One Day meets the nostalgia and loveliness of Eleanor & Park
• Crossover appeal for adult/YA audiences as readers are taken on a glorious nostalgia trip and remember the exquisite pleasure/pain of first love
• Based on Laura’s own love story with her husband, Hugo White (the guitarist in the band The Maccabees) – she wrote a story about it in The Guardian that went viral, with David Nicholls himself comparing it to Sweet Sorrow
Subject
Readership
Laura Dockrill is an award-winning children’s author, illustrator, script-writer and performance poet who has been shortlisted for the Waterstones’ Book of the Year prize and twice been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. As a poet she is a poet-in-residence for Radio 1. As a script-writer she co-wrote Goldfish which was nominated for the BAFTA for Best British Short in 2020. As a playwright her work has been seen at the Bush Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall and the Young Vic, and she has published an adult memoir called What Have I Done? which detailed her struggles with post-partum psychosis and for which she is now writing a TV series script.
She is on the advisory panel at The Ministry Of Stories, was the writer in residence for Booktrust and has judged many literary prizes. She is also the founder of ‘This Is Not a Female Tribe’, a networking session for women in the arts. She grew up in Brixton, attended the Brit School and still lives in London with her husband and son.
Take a trip back to Y2K with this nostalgic, messy and utterly beautiful love story…
It's the year 2000. I'm fourteen. I'm trying really hard to be a grunger right now. There are rumours the world is going to end. It hasn't as of yet but I still have reasons to believe it's true.
Readers LOVE I Love You, I Love You, I Love You
'The nostalgic book of my dreams' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I was crying along to their heartache and cheering along to their triumph' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Hilarious, heart-breaking and swoon-worthy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❤❤❤
Ella and Lowe are teenagers when they first meet in summer 2000. For her, it’s love at first sight. But it’s safest to love from afar, where the friendship zone is her safety net and she can’t get hurt.
Certain that the most beautiful boy she's ever seen couldn't possibly feel the same, Ella counts herself lucky to have him as her best friend. Over the next fifteen years they share everything: bottles of cider and cigarettes in the rain, gossip and laughter, grief and fear.
But every time Lowe kisses another girl, Ella feels her heart break just that little bit more. She'll have to choose whether it's enough to be just friends with the love of her life, or if she's prepared to let the terrifying, beautiful, all-consuming truth come to light.
From a unique new voice in adult fiction, I Love You, I Love You, I Love You is a glorious nostalgia trip for anyone who has ever known the exquisite pain and pleasure of first love.
❤❤❤
Perfect for fans of:
❤ Fiends to lovers
❤ Slow burn
❤ Found family
❤ Second chances
978-0-00-856738-5
19 Jun 2025
£ 9.99
The Marlow Murder Club Mysteries (4) Murder on the Marlow Belle
Robert Thorogood
• The next instalment in the Marlow Murder Club mysteries, from theSundayTimes bestselling author. We are firmly aimed at securing Robert’s secondSundayTimes bestseller.
• Now a major TV series on Drama and UKTV Play. The first series of THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB, starring Samantha Bond as Judith Potts, aired in March 2024. A second series is on the way.
• A SundayTimesTop Ten Hardback Fiction bestseller and a Top Twenty Paperback Fiction bestseller
• Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and the Reverend Richard Coles.
• All three books in the series have been Kindle and Audible top ten bestsellers multiple times.
• The first book, THEMARLOWMURDERCLUB(Jan 2021), was the No.1 Fiction Heatseeker of 2021 and an Indie BOTM. Book two, DEATHCOMESTOMARLOW(Jan 2023) was a Top 20 Hardback Fiction bestseller and a Bookseller Heatseeker.
• Robert Thorogood is the creator of DEATHINPARADISE,one of BBC One’s most successful series
Subject
Readership General
Robert Thorogood is the creator of the hit BBC One TV series Death in Paradise. He also co-created the spin-off show, Beyond Paradise, and has written a series of Death in Paradise novels featuring DI Richard Poole. Robert’s first Marlow Murder Club novel, The Marlow Murder Club, is now a major TV series starring Samantha Bond as Judith Potts. A second series is on the way.
Robert was born in Colchester, Essex. When he was ten years old, he read his first proper novel – Agatha Christie’s Peril at End House –and he’s been in love with the genre ever since. He now lives in Marlow in Buckinghamshire with his wife, children and two whippets called Wally and Evie.
The
new cosy crime novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author. THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB is now a major TV series on Drama and UKTV Play.
Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.
Oliver was, by all accounts, a rather complicated chap with a reputation for bullying children during nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll find his killer in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and this case is not so clear-cut after all. The gang will need to keep their wits about them to solve this case, otherwise a killer will walk free …
Praise for Robert Thorogood
‘Cosy crime at its best’ Crime Monthly
'A light-hearted romp with gallons of humour, mystery and brilliant sleuthing' The Sun
‘Full of unexpected twists and turns … we will be enjoying the mysteries of Robert Thorogood for many years to come' Daily Mail
'Fiendishly clever and funny, with delightful and original characters. I loved it!' Roz Watkins
‘Thrilling and heartfelt, gripping and wonderfully humorous … an absolute joy from first page to last' Chris Whitaker
Philippa Cotton Publicity Director
Philippa.Cotton@harpercollins.co.uk
Komal Patel
Deputy Publicity Director
Komal.Patel@harpercollins.co.uk 07586108285
Becci Mansell
Senior Publicity Manager
Becci.Mansell@harpercollins.co.uk
Rhiannon Morris Publicity Manager
Rhiannon.Morris@harpercollins.co.uk
Felicia Hu Press Officer
Felicia.Hu@harpercollins.co.uk
Isabel Williams Press Officer
lsabel.Williams@harpercollins.co.uk
Georgia Hester Publicity Assistant
Georgia.Hester@harpercollins.co.uk
For General PR Enquiries: hqpressoffice@harpercollins.co.uk
